dar la espalda

to have one's back to

to turn one's back on

dar la espalda(dahr lah ehs-pahl-dah)

transitive verb phrase

1. (not to be facing)

a. to have one's back to

Siento darte la espalda, pero, si no, no veo bien la pantalla.

I'm sorry I have my back to you, but otherwise I can't see the screen very well.

b. to have got one's back to

Nos estás dando la espalda, ¿por qué no te sientas en esa otra silla?

You've got your back to us; why don't you sit in that other chair?

c. to face away from

Si te sientas dando la espalda a la lámpara, no te molestará tanto la luz.

If you sit facing away from the lamp, the light won't annoy you so much.

2. (to move so as to not be facing)

a. to turn one's back on

No le gustó lo que le dije, y sencillamente me dio la espalda.

She didn't like what I said to her, and she just turned her back on me.

b. to turn away from

Laura nos dio la espalda porque no quería que la viéramos llorar.

Laura turned away from us because she didn't want us to see her crying.

3.

(figurative)

(to refuse help)

a. to turn one's back on

(figurative)

Me di cuenta de que no era un amigo de verdad. Me dio la espalda cuando más lo necesité.

I realized he wasn't a real friend. He turned his back on me when I needed him most.