Streets ahead
Something very new and innovative; "innovador" or "pionero".
ground breaking
A very tall modern building; "un rascacielos" or "torre de departamentos".
High-rise
To go out and enjoy the entertainment in a city (bars, clubs, restaurants).
Out on the town
To happen unexpectedly When a problem, a task, or an event happens suddenly, requiring your attention.
The Mexican Click: "Surgió algo" or "Se presentó algo."
Come up
The professional activity of deciding how a town or city should be designed, including where to put roads, parks, and buildings.
The Mexican Click: "Urbanismo" or "planeación urbana."
Town planning
A small plot of land in a city that people rent to grow their own vegetables or flowers.
Allotment
An area with many buildings and very little open space; think of "zonas muy urbanizadas" like the center of CDMX.
Built-up
Something that is average, ordinary, and not extreme.
Mexican equivalent: "Ni fú ni fá" or "equis."
Middle-of-the-road
To represent or support an idea or set of values; "defender" or "significar".
Stand for
A large group of houses or apartments built together in a planned way on a specific piece of land.
The Mexican Click: This is exactly what we call a "fraccionamiento" or "unidad habitacional." It often implies that all the houses look similar and were built by the same company.
Housing development
A person or animal that lives in a specified place.
Dweller
In very bad condition because of age or neglect; "descuidado" or "en mal estado".
Run-down
Something that is perfect for you because it matches your interests.
Mexican equivalent: "Te cae como anillo al dedo" or "Es lo tuyo."
Right up your street
To destroy a building (similar to demolish); "tirar" or "echar abajo".
Pull down
The process of improving or rehabilitating a run-down or decaying area of a city.
The Mexican Click: "Renovación urbana" or "gentrificación" (in some cases). This is when a city takes an "abandoned" warehouse and turns it into a "vibrant" art gallery or "retail park".
Urban renewal
Not based on any fact, evidence, or merit; groundless.
Unfounded
Spreading out over a large area in an untidy way; like how a "mancha urbana" grows.
Sprawling
An average, ordinary person.
Mexican equivalent: "Juan Pérez" or "el ciudadano de a pie."
The man in the street
To succeed or happen as planned; "salir bien".
Come off
This describes a place that is in the middle of a town or city, making it easy to reach from many different areas.
The Mexican Click: Use "céntrico" or "en el mero centro." Students will recognize this as the ideal location for a hotel or an apartment to avoid long commutes.
Centrally located
A chemical substance used to kill insects, rodents, or other organisms that are harmful to cultivated plants or to animals.
Pesticide
A place where a city's garbage is taken to be buried under layers of earth. It is the final destination for waste that isn't recycled.
Landfill site
To go out and enjoy the entertainment in a city (bars, clubs, restaurants).
Mexican equivalent: "Andar de rumba" or "irse de antro."
Out on the town
To let someone stay at your house for a short time.
Mexican equivalent: "Darle posada" to someone.
Put someone up
The central part of a major city, which in some contexts is associated with crowded conditions or lower income levels.
The Mexican Click: Think of the "zona centro" or "barrios populares" located right in the heart of the city.
Inner city