When correcting a composition I found the Spanish expression "ponerse las pilas" used by a student. Of course he just translated it "put on your batteries". When I read it I just started laughing because I imagined how an English native speaker could react after hearing this literal translation. lol. For those who don �t speak Spanish, this Spanish expression is used when for instance you haven �t worked hard throughout the course and in the last term your teacher tells you that if you want to pass the course you will have to work really hard to be able to catch up with the work. Can you help me to find the expression an English native speaker would use in that situation? I have tried to look it up in the oxford dictionary without any success.

 

The second expression I need help with is "estar de examenes". This expression is used when someone is taking / sitting / doing exams. Is there any phrasal verb or colloquial expression with this meaning? "What have you been up to? I �ve been really busy, I �ve been ........"

 

Thanks in advance.

Then there is �straighten yourself out"

"You have to get with the programme"

A less polite (but very common) one is "to put you A into G" which stands for put your arse into gear as in the way you start a car by putting the gearstick into first gear.

Another impolite slang expression is "to pull your finger out".

 

Hope this helps.

Cheers Joy

 

#2  "What have you been up to? I �ve been really busy...

...I have finals."