entretenerse

entretenerse

► verbo pronominal

1 (retrasarse) to be delayed, be held up

2 (distraerse) to keep oneself occupied

3 (divertirse) to amuse oneself

* * *

to dally

* * *

VPR

1) (=divertirse) to amuse o.s.

se entretenían contando historias — they amused themselves by telling stories, they kept themselves amused by telling stories

2) (=tardar) to hang about

¡no te entretengas! — don't hang about!

* * *

= tarry, spend + Posesivo + leisure time, spend + Posesivo + leisure, linger.

Ex. And arming himself with patience and piety he tarried awhile until the hubbub was stilled.

Ex. All the glamour, prestige and indeed wealth make the capital of Britain a hugely attractive place to visit, spend leisure time and do business.

Ex. By contrast, other quite literate people prefer to spend their leisure watching television, listening to the radio, going to the cinema or any of a hundred other forms of recreation.

Ex. He lingered round the bookstall looking at the books and papers till a pert girl behind the counter asked him if he wouldn't like a chair.

* * *

= tarry, spend + Posesivo + leisure time, spend + Posesivo + leisure, linger.

Ex: And arming himself with patience and piety he tarried awhile until the hubbub was stilled.

Ex: All the glamour, prestige and indeed wealth make the capital of Britain a hugely attractive place to visit, spend leisure time and do business.

Ex: By contrast, other quite literate people prefer to spend their leisure watching television, listening to the radio, going to the cinema or any of a hundred other forms of recreation.

Ex: He lingered round the bookstall looking at the books and papers till a pert girl behind the counter asked him if he wouldn't like a chair.

* * *

■entretenerse verbo reflexivo
1 (divertirse, pasar el rato) to amuse oneself
2 (retrasarse) to be delayed, be held up
(remolonear) to linger
'entretenerse' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
demorarse
- distracción
- distraer
- divertir
- entretener
- liar
English:
mess about
- mess around
- potter
- amuse
- busy
- dawdle
- putter

* * *

vpr

1. [despistarse] to get distracted

2. [retrasarse] to be held up;

no te entretengas y vuelve rápido don't get held up on the way and come back quickly;

me entretuve hablando o [m5]en hablar con ella y perdí el tren I got held up talking to her and I missed the train

3. [divertirse] to amuse oneself;

se entretiene con cualquier cosa he can keep himself amused with almost anything;

es mayor y ya se entretiene solo he's older and he can keep himself amused now;

me entretenía viendo la tele I passed the time watching TV

* * *

entretenerse

v/r

1 (divertirse) amuse o.s. (en hacer algo doing sth;

con algo with sth)

2 (distraerse) keep o.s. busy

3 (retrasarse) linger (en over)

* * *

vr

1) : to amuse oneself

2) : to dally

* * *

entretenerse vb

1. (divertirse) to amuse yourself

el niño se entretuvo haciendo un puzzle the little boy amused himself doing a jigsaw

2. (demorarse) to hang about [pt. & pp. hung]

se entretuvo hablando con sus amigos he hung about talking to his friends