flor
flower
The bloom a plant puts out
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
visual
floral
relating to flowers
Flor means flower and is related to the English word floral0.
flor
flower, blossom
The colorful part a plant grows before the fruit forms.
Le regalé una flor a mi abuelaI gave my grandmother a flower
El manzano se llenó de flores blancasThe apple tree filled with white blossoms
la flor de
cream, pick (of a group)
The choicest members of a group, since the flower is the finest thing a plant puts out.
Estos alumnos son la flor de la escuelaThese students are the cream of the school
Contrataron a la flor de los ingenieros del paísThey hired the pick of the country's engineers
prime, peak (of a span of time)
The best stretch of a life or a career, since a plant is at its finest while it has flowers.
Se retiró en la flor de la vidaHe retired in the prime of life
Aquellos años fueron la flor de su carreraThose years were the peak of his career
a flor de
at the surface of, on edge
Right at the surface or edge of something, like a flower sprouting up from the surface of the ground.
Las rocas estaban a flor de aguaThe rocks sat right at the surface of the water
Tenía los nervios a flor de pielHis nerves were on edge (his nerves were showing at the surface of his skin -> you could tell by looking at him that he was nervous)
echar flores
to compliment, to flatter
Literally "to throw flowers" and means to compliment or flatter someone, the same way you'd throw flowers onstage at a performer you liked.
Siempre me echa flores delante de mis amigosHe always compliments me in front of my friends
Le echó flores al jefe toda la tardeShe flattered the boss all afternoon