agarrar

v.

1 to grab.

me agarró de la cintura he grabbed me by the waist

Silvia agarró la mano de Ricardo Silvia grabbed John's hand.

2 to catch (atrapar) (ladrón).

¡si la agarro, la mato! if I catch her I'll kill her!

me agarró desprevenido he caught me off guard

María agarra el bejuco Mary catches the liMaría.

3 to catch (informal) (enfermedad). (peninsular Spanish)

4 to get, to take. (Latin American Spanish)

Agarrar impulso Take impulse.

5 to take (tinte).

6 to be taken to prison, to get nicked.

Lo agarraron He was taken to prison.[He got nicked]

* * *

agarrar

► verbo transitivo

1 (con la mano) to clutch, seize, grasp

■ agárrala fuerte hold it tight

2 familiar (pillar) to catch

3 familiar (conseguir) to take advantage of

■ hay que agarrar las oportunidades one has to grasp one's opportunities

► verbo pronominal agarrarse

1 (cogerse) to hold on, cling (a, to)

2 (pegarse) to stick

3 familiar (pelearse) to quarrel, fight

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

agarrar un cabreo to fly off the handle

agarrar una borrachera to get drunk/pissed

agarrarla to get drunk/pissed

agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo figurado to try anything, do anything

* * *

verb

1) to hold, seize, grab, grasp

2) catch

•

- agarrarse

* * *

1. VT

1) (=asir)

a) [sujetando] to hold (on to)

agarra bien el bolso — hold on to your handbag firmly

le señalaron falta por agarrar a un jugador contrario — a free kick was given against him for holding on to one of the opposition

lo tuvo bien agarrado hasta que llegó la policía — she held him until the police arrived

• entró agarrada del brazo de su padre — she came in holding her father's arm

iban agarrados del brazo — they were walking arm in arm

me agarró del brazo — he took me by the arm

b) [con violencia] to grab

agarró al niño por el hombro — he grabbed the child by the shoulder

la agarró de los pelos y no la soltaba — she grabbed her hair and refused to let her go

c) [con fuerza] to grip

la agarró fuertemente del brazo — he gripped her arm tightly

2) (=capturar) to catch

ya han agarrado al ladrón — they've already caught the thief

3) [+ resfriado] to catch

he agarrado un buen resfriado — I've caught a nasty cold

lo tiene bien agarrado al pecho — she's got a nasty chesty cough

- agarrarla

4) * (=conseguir) to get, wangle *

5) esp LAm (=coger)

agarré otro pedazo de pastel — I took another piece of cake

agarra el libro del estante — take the book off the shelf

agarrar una flor — to pick a flower

agarrar un tren — to catch a train

la casa tiene tanto trabajo que no sé por dónde agarrarla — the house needs such a lot doing to it, I don't know where to start

• agarrar el vuelo — (=despegar) to take off

6) CAm, Caribe, Méx * (=captar) to get *, understand

7) Cono Sur

• agarrar a palos a algn — * to beat sb up *

8) Caribe *** to fuck ***

2. VI

1) (=asir)

agarra por este extremo — hold it by this end, take hold of it by this end

2) (Bot) [planta] to take (root)

3) [color] to take

4) esp LAm (=coger)

agarre por esta calle — take this street

agarró y se fue — * he upped and went *

• agarrar para — (=salir) to set out for

3.

See:

agarrarse

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1) (sujetar) to grab, get hold of

lo agarró de las solapas — he grabbed him by the lapels

me agarró del brazo — (para apoyar) she took hold of my arm; (con violencia, rapidez) she grabbed me by the arm

2) (esp AmL) <objeto> (tomar) to take; (atajar) to catch

agarra un papel y toma nota — get a piece of paper and take this down

te lo tiro agárralo! — I'll throw it to you, catch!

no hay por dónde agarrarlo — (fam) <tema/asunto> you can't make head nor tail of it (colloq); <persona> you don't know how to take him

3) (AmL) (pescar, atrapar) to catch

me agarró desprevenido — she caught me off guard

si lo agarro, lo mato — if I get o lay my hands on him, I'll kill him

agarrarla con alguien — (AmL fam) to take it out on somebody

4) (esp AmL) (adquirir) <resfriado/pulmonía> to catch; <costumbre/vicio> to pick up; <ritmo> to get into; <velocidad> to gather, pick up; (+ me/te/le etc)

agarrarle cariño a alguien — to grow fond of somebody

le agarró asco — he got sick of it

le he agarrado odio — I've come to hate him

5) (AmL) (entender) <indirecta/chiste> to get

2.

agarrar vi

1) (asir, sujetar) to take hold of, hold

toma, agarra — here, hold this

2) planta/injerto to take; tornillo to grip, catch; ruedas to grip; tinte to take

3) (esp AmL) (ir)

agarraron por esa calle — they went up that street

mañana agarramos para Medellín — we're off to Medellín tomorrow

no sabe para dónde agarrar — he doesn't know which way to turn

4) (esp AmL fam)

agarrar y ...: un buen día agarró y lo dejó todo one fine day she upped and left everything; así que agarré y presenté la renuncia — so I gave in my notice there and then

3.

agarrarse v pron

1) (asirse) to hold on

agárrate bien or fuerte — hold on tight

¿sabes a quién vi? agárrate! — (fam) do you know who I saw? wait for it! (colloq)

agarrarse a or de algo — to hold on to something

iban agarrados del brazo — they were walking along arm in arm

se agarró de eso para no venir — he latched on to that as an excuse not to come

se ha agarrado a esa esperanza — she's clinging to that hope

2) (pillarse)

me agarré el dedo en el cajón — I caught my finger in the drawer

3) (esp AmL) <resfriado/pulmonía> to catch

agarrarse una borrachera — to get drunk

agarrarse un disgusto — to get upset

agarrarse una rabieta — to get into a temper

4) (AmL fam) (pelearse) to get into a fight

se agarraron a patadas — they started kicking each other

por poco se agarran de los pelos — they almost came to blows

agarrarse con alguien — to have a set-to with somebody (colloq)

agarrársela(s) con alguien — (AmL fam) to take it out on somebody (colloq)

* * *

= grip, bust, grab, grasp.

Ex. The entrance door should be automatic or with a handle easy to grip.

Ex. On Saturday, a trooper stood on a street corner dressed in plain clothes and helped bust 30 people for not wearing their seat belts.

Ex. If we move fast, we can grab the space for the library.

Ex. A mouse is commonly moved or lifted from its cage by grasping the base of the tail.

----

* agarrarse = clutch.

* agarrarse a = latch on to, hold to, hold on to, hold fast to, cling to.

* agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo = catch at + straws, grasp at + straws, clutch at + straws.

* agarrarse desesperadamente = hang on + for dear life, cling on + for dear life.

* agarrarse los machos = batten down + the hatches.

* agarrar un resfriado de muerte = catch + Posesivo + death (of cold).

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1) (sujetar) to grab, get hold of

lo agarró de las solapas — he grabbed him by the lapels

me agarró del brazo — (para apoyar) she took hold of my arm; (con violencia, rapidez) she grabbed me by the arm

2) (esp AmL) <objeto> (tomar) to take; (atajar) to catch

agarra un papel y toma nota — get a piece of paper and take this down

te lo tiro agárralo! — I'll throw it to you, catch!

no hay por dónde agarrarlo — (fam) <tema/asunto> you can't make head nor tail of it (colloq); <persona> you don't know how to take him

3) (AmL) (pescar, atrapar) to catch

me agarró desprevenido — she caught me off guard

si lo agarro, lo mato — if I get o lay my hands on him, I'll kill him

agarrarla con alguien — (AmL fam) to take it out on somebody

4) (esp AmL) (adquirir) <resfriado/pulmonía> to catch; <costumbre/vicio> to pick up; <ritmo> to get into; <velocidad> to gather, pick up; (+ me/te/le etc)

agarrarle cariño a alguien — to grow fond of somebody

le agarró asco — he got sick of it

le he agarrado odio — I've come to hate him

5) (AmL) (entender) <indirecta/chiste> to get

2.

agarrar vi

1) (asir, sujetar) to take hold of, hold

toma, agarra — here, hold this

2) planta/injerto to take; tornillo to grip, catch; ruedas to grip; tinte to take

3) (esp AmL) (ir)

agarraron por esa calle — they went up that street

mañana agarramos para Medellín — we're off to Medellín tomorrow

no sabe para dónde agarrar — he doesn't know which way to turn

4) (esp AmL fam)

agarrar y ...: un buen día agarró y lo dejó todo one fine day she upped and left everything; así que agarré y presenté la renuncia — so I gave in my notice there and then

3.

agarrarse v pron

1) (asirse) to hold on

agárrate bien or fuerte — hold on tight

¿sabes a quién vi? agárrate! — (fam) do you know who I saw? wait for it! (colloq)

agarrarse a or de algo — to hold on to something

iban agarrados del brazo — they were walking along arm in arm

se agarró de eso para no venir — he latched on to that as an excuse not to come

se ha agarrado a esa esperanza — she's clinging to that hope

2) (pillarse)

me agarré el dedo en el cajón — I caught my finger in the drawer

3) (esp AmL) <resfriado/pulmonía> to catch

agarrarse una borrachera — to get drunk

agarrarse un disgusto — to get upset

agarrarse una rabieta — to get into a temper

4) (AmL fam) (pelearse) to get into a fight

se agarraron a patadas — they started kicking each other

por poco se agarran de los pelos — they almost came to blows

agarrarse con alguien — to have a set-to with somebody (colloq)

agarrársela(s) con alguien — (AmL fam) to take it out on somebody (colloq)

* * *

= grip, bust, grab, grasp.

Ex: The entrance door should be automatic or with a handle easy to grip.

Ex: On Saturday, a trooper stood on a street corner dressed in plain clothes and helped bust 30 people for not wearing their seat belts.

Ex: If we move fast, we can grab the space for the library.

Ex: A mouse is commonly moved or lifted from its cage by grasping the base of the tail.

* agarrarse = clutch.

* agarrarse a = latch on to, hold to, hold on to, hold fast to, cling to.

* agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo = catch at + straws, grasp at + straws, clutch at + straws.

* agarrarse desesperadamente = hang on + for dear life, cling on + for dear life.

* agarrarse los machos = batten down + the hatches.

* agarrar un resfriado de muerte = catch + Posesivo + death (of cold).

* * *

agarrar [A1 ]

vt

A (sujetar) to get hold of, grab

lo agarró de or por las solapas he grabbed him o took hold of him by the lapels

agárralo, que se va a caer grab him, he's going to fall

me agarró del brazo (para apoyarse) she took hold of my arm; (con violencia, rapidez) she grabbed me by the arm, she seized my arm

ya agarra bien el sonajero she can already hold her rattle properly

B (esp AmL) ‹objeto› (tomar) to take; (atajar) to catch

agarra el dinero de mi cartera take the money out of my wallet

agarra un papel y toma nota get a piece of paper and take this down

¿alguien agarró el libro que dejé en la mesa? did anyone pick up o take the book I left on the table?

¿puedo agarrar una manzana? may I take an apple?

agarró las llaves/sus cosas y se fue he took the keys/his things and left

te lo tiro ¡agárralo! I'll throw it to you, catch!

este capítulo es dificilísimo, no hay or no tiene por dónde agarrarlo (fam); this chapter is really difficult, I can't make head nor tail of it (colloq)

C

1 (AmL) (pescar, atrapar) to catch

si te agarra el profesor, ya verás if the teacher catches you, you'll be for it

si lo agarro, lo mato if I get o lay my hands on him, I'll kill him

se acaba de ir, pero si corres, lo agarras he's just left, but if you run, you'll catch him

me agarró desprevenido/de buen humor she caught me off guard/in a good mood

agarrarla con algn (AmL fam); to take it out on sb

2 (CS fam) (con una pregunta) to catch … out, stump

3 (CS) ‹televisión/emisora› to get, pick up

D

1 ‹resfriado› to catch

no salgas así, vas a agarrar una pulmonía don't go out like that, you'll catch your death of cold

2 ‹velocidad› to gather, pick up

3 ‹asco/odio/miedo› (+ me/te/le etc):

se ha caído tantas veces que le ha agarrado miedo al caballo she's had so many falls that now she's afraid of the horse

con los años le he ido agarrando cariño over the years I've grown fond of her

4 (entender) ‹indirecta/chiste› to get

5 (RPl) ‹calle› to take

■ agarrar

vi

A (asir, sujetar) to take hold of, hold

toma, agarra here, hold this

agarra por ahí take o get hold of that part

B

1 «planta/injerto» to take

2 «tornillo» to grip, catch; «ruedas» to grip

3 «tinte» to take

C (esp AmL) (ir) agarrar POR algo; ‹por una calle/la costa› to go ALONG sth agarrar PARA algo to head FOR sth

agarraron para la capital they headed for the capital

tiene tantos problemas, que no sabe para dónde agarrar he has so many problems, he doesn't know which way to turn

D

(esp AmL fam): agarrar y …: un buen día agarró y lo dejó todo one fine day she upped and left everything

cuando ya había hecho la reserva agarra y me dice que no quiere ir I had already made the reservations when he goes and tells me he doesn't want to go

así que agarré y presenté la renuncia so I gave in my notice on the spot o there and then

■ agarrarse

v pron

A (asirse) to hold on

agárrate bien or fuerte hold on tight

¿sabes cuánto dinero nos queda? ¡agárrate! (fam); do you know how much money we have left? wait for it! o prepare yourself for a shock! (colloq)

agarrarse A or DE algo to hold on TO sth

se agarró al or del pasamanos she held on to o gripped the handrail

iban agarrados del brazo they were walking along arm in arm

se agarró de eso para no venir he latched on to that as an excuse not to come

se ha agarrado a esa promesa/esperanza she's clinging to that promise/hope

B

(pillarse): me agarré el dedo en el cajón I caught my finger in the drawer

C

(esp AmL): se agarró una borrachera de padre y señor mío he got absolutely blind drunk

se agarró una rabieta he got o flew into a temper

¡qué disgusto se agarró cuando se enteró! she got really upset when she heard!

D (AmL fam)

1 (pelearse, reñir) agarrarse CON algn to have a fight o an argument WITH sb (colloq)

no vale la pena agarrarse con él por esa estupidez there's no point arguing with him over a silly thing like that

agarrársela(s) con algn (AmL fam); to take it out on sb (colloq)

se las agarró conmigo he took it out on me

2

(pelearse): se agarraron a patadas/puñetazos they started kicking/punching each other

por poco se agarran de los pelos they almost came to blows

E (pegarse) «comida» to stick

* * *

 

agarrar (conjugate agarrar) verbo transitivo
1 (sujetar) to grab, get hold of;

◊ me agarró del brazo (para apoyar) she took hold of my arm;

(con violencia, rapidez) she grabbed me by the arm
2 (esp AmL) ‹objeto› (tomar) to take;
(atajar) to catch;

◊ agarra un papel y toma nota get a piece of paper and take this down

3 (AmL) (pescar, atrapar) to catch;

◊ si lo agarro, lo mato if I get o lay my hands on him, I'll kill him

4 (esp AmL) (adquirir) ‹resfriado/pulmonía› to catch;
‹costumbre/vicio› to pick up;
‹ritmo› to get into;
‹velocidad› to gather, pick up;

◊ agarrarle cariño a algn to grow fond of sb;

le agarró asco he got sick of it;
le he agarrado odio I've come to hate him
5 (AmL) (entender) ‹indirecta/chiste› to get
verbo intransitivo
1 (asir, sujetar):

◊ toma, agarra here, hold this;

agarra por ahí take hold of that part
2 [planta/injerto] to take;
[tornillo] to grip, catch;
[ruedas] to grip;
[tinte] to take
agarrarse verbo pronominal
1 (asirse) to hold on;
agárrate bien or fuerte hold on tight;
agarrarse a or de algo to hold on to sth;

◊ iban agarrados del brazo they were walking along arm in arm

2 ‹dedo/manga› to catch;

◊ me agarré el dedo en el cajón I caught my finger in the drawer

3 (esp AmL) ‹resfriado/pulmonía› to catch;

◊ agarrarse una borrachera to get drunk;

agarrarse un disgusto/una rabieta to get upset/into a temper
4 (AmL fam) (pelearse) to get into a fight;

◊ se agarraron a patadas they started kicking each other;

agarrarse con algn to have a set-to with sb (colloq)
agarrar verbo transitivo
1 (sujetar con fuerza) to grasp, seize: lo tienes bien agarrado, you are holding it tightly
2 LAm (coger) to take
3 fam (pillar a alguien, un resfriado) to catch
agarrar(se) una borrachera, to get drunk o fam pissed
'agarrar' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
coger
- melopea
- sujetar
- tomar
- turca
- alcanzar
- atajar
- cuete
- fuerte
- hueveo
- insolación
- jalar
- mano
- mona
English:
blind
- catch
- clasp
- clutch
- collar
- grab
- grasp
- grip
- hold
- seize
- take
- act
- bust
- clench
- get
- knack
- latch
- nab
- nail
- pick
- red
- rope
- surprise
- unawares
- up

* * *

agarrar

♦ vt

1. [asir] to grab;

me agarró de la cintura he grabbed me by the waist;

agarra bien al niño y no se caerá hold onto the child tight and he won't fall

2. Fam [pillar] [ladrón] to catch;

¡si la agarro, la mato! if I catch her I'll kill her!;

me agarró desprevenido he caught me off guard

3. Esp Fam [pillar] [enfermedad] to catch

4. Comp

Fam

agarrarla, agarrar una buena to get sloshed;

Fam

esta novela no hay por dónde agarrarla I can't make head or tail of this novel;

RP Fam

agarrar la mano a algo to get to grips with sth;

Méx Fam

agarrar patín to have a good laugh;

RP Fam

agarrar viaje to accept an offer;

RP Fam

agarrar viento en la camiseta to really get going;

después de un comienzo accidentado, el proyecto agarró viento en la camiseta after a shaky start the project really took off

♦ vi

1. Esp [asir]

agarrar de to take hold of;

¡agarra de la cuerda! grab the rope!

2. [tinte] to take

3. [planta] to take root

4. [ruedas] to grip

5. [clavo] to go in;

el tornillo no ha agarrado the screw hasn't gone in properly

6. Am [encaminarse]

agarrar para to head for;

agarró para la izquierda he took a left;

Comp

RP Fam

agarrar para el lado de los tomates to get hold of the wrong end of the stick

7. [tomar costumbre]

agarrarle a alguien por: le agarró por el baile she took it into her head to take up dancing;

le agarró por cantar en medio de la clase he got it into his head to start singing in the middle of the class;

le agarró por no tomar alcohol she suddenly started not drinking alcohol;

¿está aprendiendo ruso? – sí, le agarró por ahí is she learning Russian? – yes, that's her latest mad idea

8. Comp

Fam

agarrar y hacer algo to go and do sth;

agarró y se fue she upped and went;

agarró y me dio una bofetada she went and slapped me

♦ See also the pronominal verb agarrarse

* * *

agarrar

I v/t

1 (asir) grab

2 (atrapar, pescar), resfriado catch

3 L.Am. (tomar) take

4 L.Am.

velocidad gather, pick up

5 L.Am.

agarrar una calle go up o along a street

II v/i

1 (asirse) hold on

2 de planta take root

3 L.Am.

por un lugar go;

agarró y se fue he upped and went

* * *

agarrar vt

1) : to grab, to grasp

2) : to catch, to take

agarrar vi

agarrar y fam : to do (something) abruptly

el día siguiente agarró y se fue: the next day he up and left

♦ See also the reflexive verb agarrarse

* * *

agarrar vb

1. (coger) to grab [pt. & pp. grabbed]

un hombre lo agarró a man grabbed him

2. (sujetar) to hold [pt. & pp. held]

agárralo fuerte hold it tight

3. (atrapar, contraer) to catch [pt. & pp. caught]

agarró un resfriado she caught a cold