baby boom
A sudden, large, sustained increase in the birthrate, especially the one from the later 1940s through the early 1960s.
back room
The meeting place used by an inconspicuous controlling group.
balancing act
a situation requiring careful balancing of opposing groups, views, or activities: a delicate balancing act between Greek and Turkish interests.
bay window (ventana volada; ventana salediza)
(Architecture) A large window or series of windows projecting from the outer wall of a building and forming a recess within.
bear hug
A rough, tight hug.
bell pepper
A variety of sweet pepper widely cultivated for its edible fruit, typically green, yellow, or red.
box office
A booth, as in a theater or stadium, where tickets are sold.
breaking news (notícies d'última hora)
A current issue that broadcasters feel warrants the interruption of scheduled programming and/or current news in order to report its details.
breathing room
Sufficient time to prepare for or recover from the pressing difficulties of a situation.
capital gain (plusvàlua)
The amount by which proceeds from the sale of a capital asset exceed the original cost.
cash flow (flux de caixa)
The pattern of income and expenditures, as of a company or person, and the resulting availability of cash
child support (manutenció dels fills)
Court-ordered support paid by one spouse to the other who has custody of the children after the parents are separated
coffee table
A long low table, often placed before a sofa.
comfort zone
(Psychology) a situation or position in which a person feels secure, comfortable, or in control: encouraging people to work outside their comfort zone.
control group
(Medicine) any group used as a control in a statistical experiment, esp a group of patients who receive either a placebo or a standard drug during an investigation of the effects of another drug on other patients
cover story
(1) A featured story in a magazine that concerns the image on the cover (2) A false story intended to deceive or mislead: The spy's cover story required posing as a diplomat.
cross section (ampli sector)
A random selection or sample, esp one regarded as representative: a cross section of the public.
death row (corredor de la mort)
The part of a prison for housing inmates who have received the death penalty. Also called death house.
death toll (nombre de víctimes)
The number of deaths resulting from some particular cause such as an accident or a battle or a natural disaster
district attorney (fiscal)
(Law) (in the US) the state prosecuting officer in a specified judicial district
duct tape (cinta americana)
A usually silver adhesive tape made of cloth mesh coated with a waterproof material, originally designed for sealing heating and air-conditioning ducts.
face value (valor aparent)
apparent worth or value, as opposed to real worth
food processor
An appliance consisting of a container housing interchangeable rotating blades and used for preparing foods, as by shredding, slicing, chopping, or blending.
freelancer
A person who sells services to employers without a long-term commitment to any of them.
gas mileage
The ratio of the number of miles traveled to the number of gallons of gasoline burned
head start (avantatge inicial)
An early start that confers an advantage.
home turf
One's familiar surroundings or habitat.
interest group
A group of persons working on behalf of or strongly supporting a particular cause, such as an industry or an item of legislation.
locker room (vestidors)
A room furnished with lockers, as in a gymnasium, school, or workplace, used as a place in which to change clothes and store equipment.
market share (quota de marcat)
The proportion of industry sales of a good or service that is controlled by a company.
nursing home (residència de la tercera edat)
A private establishment that provides living quarters and care for chronically ill, usually elderly patients.
peer group
A group of people who are approximately equal in age or social status.
plastic wrap
Plastic that is formed into a thin, clear, flexible sheet and used as a wrapping to keep food from spoiling.
press release (comunicat de premsa)
An announcement of an event, performance, or other newsworthy item that is issued to the press.
publicity stunt
A planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause.
reality check
a corrective confronting of reality, in order to counteract one's expectations, prejudices, or the like.
report card (informe escolar)
a periodic written report of a pupil's grades and behavior, sent to the parents or guardian.
role model (model a seguir)
A person who serves as a model in a particular behavioral or social role for another person to emulate.
roller coaster (muntanya russa)
A steep, sharply curving elevated railway with small open passenger cars that is operated at high speeds as a ride, especially in an amusement park.
safety net
A guarantee, as of professional, physical, or financial security: the safety net of a generous pension plan.
school board (comissió d'escola pública)
A local board that oversees public schools.
screen door (porta mosquitera)
A door that consists of a frame holding metallic or plastic netting used to allow ventilation and to keep insects from entering.
sea change
a major transformation or alteration.
seat belt
A safety strap or harness designed to hold a person securely in a seat, as in a motor vehicle or aircraft. Also called safety belt.
seed money (capital llavor)
Money used or needed to set up a new business or enterprise.
selling point (argument de venda)
An aspect of a product or service that is stressed in advertising or marketing.
side effect (efecte secundari)
A peripheral or secondary effect, especially an undesirable secondary effect of a drug or therapy.
soap opera
A drama, typically performed as a serial on daytime television or radio, characterized by stock characters and situations, sentimentality, and melodrama.
sound bite
A short extract from a recorded interview, chosen for its pungency or appropriateness.
station wagon
An automobile having an extended interior with a third seat or luggage platform and a door or tailgate at the back.
stem cell (cèl·lula mare)
An unspecialized cell that can give rise to one or more different types of specialized cells, such as blood cells and nerve cells.
talk show
A television or radio show in which noted people, such as authorities in a particular field, participate in discussions or are interviewed and often answer questions from viewers or listeners.
task force
A temporary grouping of individuals and resources for the accomplishment of a specific objective: a presidential task force to fight drug trafficking.
tax rate (taxa d'impost)
(Economics) the percentage of income, wealth, etc, assessed as payable in taxation
town hall (ajuntament)
A building that contains the offices of the public officials of a town and that houses the town council and courts.
track record (historial de la trajectòria laboral)
A record of actual performance or accomplishment: a job applicant with an excellent track record.
trouble spot (lloc/punt conflictiu)
(Government, Politics & Diplomacy) A place where difficulties regularly occur, especially a country or area where there is a continuous cycle of violence.
trust fund (fons fiduciari)
A collection of property, especially money and securities, held by one party, such as a parent, for the benefit of another, such as a child. (Fideïcomís)
turning point (punt d'inflexió)
The point at which a very significant change occurs; a decisive moment.
vantage point (punt estratègic)
A position that affords a broad overall view or perspective, as of a place or situation.
venture capital (capital de risc)
Money available for investment in startup companies and small businesses with a high potential for growth. Also called risk capital.
wake-up call (trucada despertador; toc d'alerta)
A sign or warning that alerts one to negative or dangerous behavior or circumstances: "Her personal life was spiraling out of control ... and her brush with death came as a wake-up call"
wiggle room (margen de maniobra)
Flexibility, as of options or interpretation: ambiguous wording that left some wiggle room for further negotiation.
work ethic
An ethical principle that places greatest value on hard work and diligence.