The Image People Show to Others
Ya umma
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26 Oktoba 2026
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Sikiliza na upitie
Ongeza angalau kadi 2 za Voca ili kufungua Sikiliza na upitie na kufanya mazoezi ukitumia sauti.
Spanish expressions contrast the image people present with what they feel or do in private.
Two close friends talk privately about Ana's public image and her troubled relationship with Luis.
The cards use figurative chunks about appearances, social approval, and hidden feelings.
Kadi za Voca
1.
dar una buena impresión
make a good impression
Ana quiere dar una buena impresión en la cena, aunque tú sabes que está triste.
Ana wants to make a good impression at dinner, even though you know she's sad.
Often concerns an initial reaction; it does not establish whether the impression is accurate.
2.
cuidar la imagen
protect one's image
Ana cuida la imagen de su matrimonio: solo publica fotos donde abraza a Luis.
Ana protects her marriage's image by only posting photos where she's hugging Luis.
Can concern personal or professional reputation, not just physical appearance.
3.
quedar bien con alguien
look good in someone's eyes
Ana sonríe para quedar bien con tu familia, aunque no quiere estar en esa cena.
Ana smiles to look good in your family's eyes, even though she doesn't want to be at that dinner.
Use 'con' before the person whose approval matters.
4.
guardar las apariencias
keep up appearances
Ana y Luis siguen llegando juntos para guardar las apariencias; tú sabes que apenas hablan.
Ana and Luis still arrive together to keep up appearances; you know they barely speak.
Often suggests social pressure rather than a deliberate plan to deceive.
5.
el qué dirán
what people will say
Por el qué dirán, Ana no cuenta que duerme separada de Luis.
Worried about what people will say, Ana doesn't tell anyone that she and Luis sleep separately.
A fixed noun phrase, not a direct question; keep the accent in 'qué'.
6.
de puertas para afuera
to the outside world, in public
De puertas para afuera, Ana y Luis parecen felices; tú conoces sus discusiones.
To the outside world, Ana and Luis seem happy; you know about their arguments.
Contrast with 'de puertas para adentro' for what happens in private.
7.
mantener una fachada
maintain a facade, keep up a front
Ana mantiene una fachada de felicidad, pero ayer me dijo que quiere irse.
Ana keeps up a happy front, but yesterday she told me she wants to leave.
Usually implies a lasting pretense, not a single polite smile.
8.
poner buena cara
put on a happy face, put on a brave face
Ana pone buena cara en las cenas, aunque sabes que después llora.
Ana puts on a happy face at dinners, even though you know she cries afterward.
Use 'a' to name the difficulty faced: 'poner buena cara a los problemas'.
9.
hacer como si nada
act like nothing happened
Ana hace como si nada cuando llegan visitas, aunque acaba de discutir con Luis.
Ana acts like nothing happened when guests arrive, even though she's just had an argument with Luis.
Usually follows something upsetting or awkward that the person chooses not to acknowledge.
10.
no querer ser menos
not want to be outdone
Ana compró ese auto porque no quiere ser menos que tus amigos.
Ana bought that car because she doesn't want to be outdone by your friends.
Often mildly critical; it concerns competition for status, not a lack of ability.
11.
vivir de las apariencias
live for appearances
Ana vive de las apariencias: presume de viajes, pero me pide dinero para comer.
Ana lives for appearances: she brags about her trips but asks me for money for food.
Stronger criticism than 'guardar las apariencias'; it suggests a whole lifestyle.
12.
vender una imagen
project an image, sell an image
Ana vende una imagen de pareja perfecta, pero tú has visto cómo evita a Luis.
Ana projects an image of the perfect couple, but you've seen how she avoids Luis.
Figurative here; no sale is involved. Often suggests deliberate promotion of a possibly misleading image.
13.
llevar una doble vida
lead a double life
Sabes que Ana lleva una doble vida: vive con Luis, pero sale con otro.
You know Ana leads a double life: she lives with Luis but is seeing someone else.
Usually implies sustained, separate sides of someone's life, not occasional mood changes.
14.
salvar la cara
save face
Cuando preguntaste por ese otro hombre, Ana cambió de tema para salvar la cara.
When you asked about that other man, Ana changed the subject to save face.
Focuses on avoiding public embarrassment, not fixing the underlying problem.
15.
quedar bien parado
come out looking good
Tras esa cena, Ana quedó bien parada; nadie supo que mentía sobre su matrimonio.
Ana came out of that dinner looking good; no one realized she'd been lying about her marriage.
Use 'parada' for a woman. The phrase concerns someone's reputation after a difficult situation.
16.
ponerse una máscara
put on a mask
Ana se pone una máscara de felicidad cuando habla de Luis en público.
Ana puts on a mask of happiness when she talks about Luis in public.
17.
quitarse la máscara
take off the mask, drop the mask
Solo contigo Ana se quita la máscara y admite que no es feliz.
Only with you does Ana drop the mask and admit she isn't happy.
Can sound accusatory in other contexts; here it refers to dropping an emotional pretense.
18.
lavar los trapos sucios en casa
keep dirty laundry private
Ana insiste en lavar los trapos sucios en casa; nadie debe saber que se separan.
Ana insists on keeping their dirty laundry private; no one is supposed to know they're separating.
Often used as advice to keep family conflicts private; it can also pressure people to stay silent.
19.
La procesión va por dentro.
The pain doesn't show.
Ana sonríe en las fotos, pero ya sabes: la procesión va por dentro.
Ana smiles in photos, but you know how it is: she doesn't let her pain show.
A traditional saying; it is not limited to religious contexts.
20.
Las apariencias engañan.
Appearances can be deceiving.
Tú ves a Ana sonreír con Luis, pero las apariencias engañan.
You see Ana smiling with Luis, but appearances can be deceiving.
A warning, not proof that a particular person is dishonest.