complain

S1 W1

BrE /kəmˈpleɪn/ AmE /kəmˈpleɪn/

verb en → es

past complained pp complained ing complaining

1 EXPRESS DISCONTENT [intransitive, T + about/over] A2

to say that you are not satisfied with something or someone

quejarse, protestar

  • complain about sth/sb
  • complain to sb

Collocations complain about the service · complain to management

  • She is always complaining about her job.

    Ella siempre se queja de su trabajo.

  • He complained to his boss about the working conditions.

    Él se quejó a su jefe sobre las condiciones laborales.

2 COMPLAIN TO [transitive] B1

to tell someone that you are not satisfied with something or someone, especially in order to get it changed

quejarse a alguien

  • complain to sb about sth/sb

Collocations complain to the manager · complain to customer service

  • They complained to the landlord about the noise.

    Se quejaron al propietario del ruido.

3 COMPLAIN OF [transitive] B1

to say that you have a particular illness or pain

quejarse de, tener dolor de

  • complain of sth

Collocations complain of a headache · complain of back pain

  • She complained of feeling dizzy.

    Ella se quejó de sentirse mareada.

Idioms

complain and moan B1

quejarse y lamentarse

  • Stop complaining and moaning about everything.

    Deja de quejarte y lamentarte sobre todo.

complain to the skies B2

quejarse a los cuatro vientos

  • He complains to the skies about his life.

    Él se queja a los cuatro vientos de su vida.

complain like a broken record B2

quejarse como un disco rayado

  • She complains like a broken record about the same thing.

    Ella se queja como un disco rayado sobre lo mismo.