fault

culpa

Responsabilidad por algo malo que ocurre debido a lo que alguien hizo o dejó de hacer.

En inglés sencillo: Responsibility for something bad that happened because of what someone did or failed to do.

• It was my fault.
• Who was at fault for the accident?
• She admitted that losing the keys was entirely her fault.

Cómo se usa: be someone’s fault (The delay was my fault.); be at fault (The driver was at fault.)

Sinónimos: blame, responsibility

Expresiones frecuentes: my fault, at fault, fault of someone, someone’s fault

fallo, defecto

Problema de una máquina, un plan u otra cosa que impide que funcione bien.

En inglés sencillo: Something wrong with a machine, plan, or other thing that stops it from working well.

• The car has an electrical fault.
• We found several faults in the plan.
• A technician repaired the fault in the heating system.

Cómo se usa: fault in something (We found a fault in the wiring.)

Sinónimos: defect, flaw, problem

Expresiones frecuentes: technical fault, find a fault, fault in something

defecto

Aspecto negativo o debilidad en el carácter o la conducta de una persona.

En inglés sencillo: A weakness in someone’s character or behavior.

• Impatience is his main fault.
• She knows my faults and still likes me.
• We all have faults, so try to be understanding.

Sinónimos: weakness, flaw, failing

Antónimos: virtue

Expresiones frecuentes: human fault, character fault, someone’s main fault

falla

Gran fractura en las rocas de la Tierra cuyos lados se han desplazado uno respecto al otro.

En inglés sencillo: A large crack in Earth’s rocks where parts of the ground have moved past each other.

• The town lies near a fault.
• Movement along the fault caused an earthquake.
• Scientists mapped several faults beneath the valley.

Expresiones frecuentes: active fault, geological fault, fault line

falta

Acción contraria a las reglas del tenis o voleibol, como un saque que cae fuera de la zona correcta.

En inglés sencillo: An action against the rules in tennis or volleyball, such as a serve that lands outside the correct area.

• The umpire called a fault.
• Two faults in a row cost her the point.
• His serve landed outside the line and was a fault.

Expresiones frecuentes: double fault, foot fault, serve a fault

criticar, culpar

Criticar a alguien o algo por un error o un punto débil.

En inglés sencillo: To criticize someone or something for a mistake or weakness.

• I cannot fault your effort.
• Critics faulted the report for ignoring local people.
• Can you really fault him for wanting a better job?

Cómo se usa: fault someone for something/doing something (I cannot fault her for asking questions.)

Sinónimos: criticize, blame

Antónimos: praise

Expresiones frecuentes: fault someone, fault someone’s effort, fault someone for