matar

v.

1 to kill (quitar la vida a).

lo mataron a puñaladas he was stabbed to death

si se entera me mata (informal figurative) she'll kill me if she finds out

¡me vas a matar a disgustos! you'll be the death of me!

estar o llevarse a matar (con alguien) to be at daggers drawn (with somebody)

matarlas callando (informal) to be up to something on the quiet

El pillo ultima a sus víctimas The bandit executes his victims.

2 to slaughter (animal) (para consumo).

3 to tone down (apagar) (color).

4 to round (off).

* * *

matar

► verbo transitivo

1 (persona - gen) to kill; (- asesinar) to murder

2 (animal - gen) to kill; (- para alimentación) to slaughter

3 familiar (sorprender) to have on, kid

■ ¿que se ha fugado? ¡no me mates! he ran away? you're having me on!

4 familiar (incomodar, causar dolor) to kill; (volver loco) to drive mad

■ estos zapatos me están matando this shoes are killing me

5 (dejar pasmado) to amaze, stun

■ me han matado con el cambio de jefe the change of boss really knocked me sideways

6 (pasar) to kill

■ mientras, voy a matar el tiempo dando una vuelta meanwhile, I'll go for a walk just to kill time

7 (satisfacer - sed) to quench; (- hambre) to stay, stave off

8 (inutilizar - sello) to frank

9 (destruir - ilusiones) to kill

10 (limar - arista, esquina) to round

11 (suavizar - color) to tone down

12 argot (porro, cigarrillo) to stub out

► verbo pronominal matarse

1 (involuntariamente) to die; (voluntariamente) to kill oneself

■ se mató en un accidente de tráfico she was killed in a car crash

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

llevarse a matar con alguien to be at daggers drawn with somebody

matarlas callando to be a wolf in a sheep's clothing

matarse a trabajar to work oneself to death

que me maten si ... I'll be damned if ...

* * *

verb

1) to kill

2) butcher, slaughter

3) pass, waste

* * *

1. VT

1) [+ persona] to kill; [+ reses, ganado] to kill, slaughter

la mató en un ataque de celos — he killed her in a fit of jealousy

el jefe me va a matar — the boss will kill me

matar a algn a golpes — to beat sb to death

matar a algn a disgustos — to make sb's life a misery

así me maten — for the life of me

que me maten si ... — I'll be damned if ...

- matarlas callando

- entre todos la mataron y ella sola se murió

2) [+ tiempo, pelota] to kill; [+ sed] to quench; [+ sello] to postmark, cancel; [+ pieza] [en ajedrez] to take; [+ cal] to slake; [+ ángulo, borde] to file down; [+ color] to dull

cómete una manzana para matar el hambre — have an apple to keep you going

3) * (=molestar)

los zapatos me están matando — these shoes are killing me *

me mata tener que trabajar en sábado — it's a pain having to work on a Saturday *

4) * (=sorprender)

¿se van a casar? ¡me has matado! — they're getting married? you're kidding! *

2.

VI to kill

no matarás — (Rel) thou shalt not kill

entrar a matar — (Taur) to go in for the kill

- estar o llevarse a matar con algn

3.

See:

matarse

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1)

a) <persona> to kill; <reses> to slaughter

lo mataron a golpes — they beat him to death

lo mató un coche — he was run over and killed by a car

hubo que matar al caballo — the horse had to be put down o destroyed

entrar a matar — (Taur) to go in for the kill

el cigarrillo acabará matándote — cigarettes will be the death of you

entre todos la mataron (y ella sola se murió) — (fr hecha) they are all to blame

que me maten si no es verdad lo que digo — may God strike me dead if I speak a word of a lie

las mata callando — he's a wolf in sheep's clothing

matarlas — (Chi fam) to blow it (colloq)

b) (en sentido hiperbólico)

la vas a matar a disgustos — you'll be the death of her

es para matarlos — I could murder o kill them (colloq)

nos mataban de hambre — they used to starve us

cuando se entere me mata — she'll kill me when she finds out (colloq)

me mata tener que estudiar tanto — it kills me having to study so much (colloq)

me mataste, no tengo ni idea! — (fam) you've really got me there, I haven't a clue! (colloq)

estos zapatos me están matando — these shoes are killing me!

2) (fam) <sed> to quench; <tiempo> to kill

compraron fruta para matar el hambre — they bought some fruit to keep them going

3)

a) <pelota> to kill

b) <carta> to cover

2.

matar vi (causar muerte) to kill

hay miradas que matan — if looks could kill

estar or llevarse a matar — to be at daggers drawn

3.

matarse v pron

1)

a) (morir violentamente)

se mató en un accidente — she was killed in an accident

casi me mato — I almost got killed

b) (refl) (suicidarse) to kill oneself

se mató de un tiro — she shot herself

2) (fam)

a) (esforzarse)

me maté estudiando or (Esp) a estudiar — I studied like crazy o mad (colloq)

se mató trabajando — he nearly killed himself working (colloq)

b) (Méx fam) (para un examen) to cram (colloq), to swot (BrE colloq)

* * *

= do in, kill, murder, massacre, slaughter, slay.

Ex. When I saw what he was up to, I drew back for a punch and hit him so hard on the nose that he fell on his back and lay there for some time, so that his wife stood over him and cried out 'Mercy! You've done my husband in!'.

Ex. He was looking for the book 'Flowers and Bullets and Freedom to kill' = Estaba buscando el libro "Flores, balas y libertad para matar".

Ex. The man who was the real-life Don Juan may not have been murdered for his acts of seduction but for his possible homosexuality and political subversiveness.

Ex. In the 1994 Rwandan genocide, 800,000 people were massacred.

Ex. These small small but very sharp flakes were used by hunters to slaughter animals.

Ex. A bronze statue of David slaying Goliath has been unveiled in Florence today after months of painstaking restoration work.

----

* Algo que se hace para matar el tiempo = time filler.

* a mata caballo = in a hurry, hurried, hurriedly, helter-skelter.

* ansias de matar = bloodlust.

* así me maten = for the life of me.

* comer Algo para matar el gusanillo = eat + Comida + to keep + Nombre + going.

* deseo de matar = bloodlust.

* disparar a matar = shoot to + kill.

* hay miradas que matan = if looks could kill....

* incapaz de matar una mosca = wouldn't hurt a fly.

* licencia para matar = licence to kill.

* lo que a uno cura a otro mata = one man's meat is another man's poison.

* máquina de matar = killing machine.

* matar a alguien = take + life.

* matar a cuchillazos = stab + Nombre + to death, knife + Nombre + to death.

* matar a disparos = shoot + Nombre + dead.

* matar al enemigo = take + no prisoners.

* matar a palos = beat + Nombre + to death.

* matar a puñaladas = stab + Nombre + to death, stab + Nombre + to death, knife + Nombre + to death.

* matar con gas = gas.

* matar con la mirada = look + daggers at.

* matar de hambre = starve to + death.

* matar de un disparo = shoot, fatally + shoot.

* matar de un manotazo = swat.

* matar el rato = hang around, hang about, pootle, dawdle.

* matar el tiempo = kill + time.

* matar indiscriminadamente = take + no prisoners.

* matarlas callando = wolf in sheep's clothing.

* matarse trabajando = work + Reflexivo + to death, work + Reflexivo + to the ground, work + Posesivo + fingers to the bone.

* sed de matar = bloodlust.

* si las miradas mataran... = if looks could kill....

* tirar a matar = go for + the jugular, deadly force, shoot to + kill.

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1)

a) <persona> to kill; <reses> to slaughter

lo mataron a golpes — they beat him to death

lo mató un coche — he was run over and killed by a car

hubo que matar al caballo — the horse had to be put down o destroyed

entrar a matar — (Taur) to go in for the kill

el cigarrillo acabará matándote — cigarettes will be the death of you

entre todos la mataron (y ella sola se murió) — (fr hecha) they are all to blame

que me maten si no es verdad lo que digo — may God strike me dead if I speak a word of a lie

las mata callando — he's a wolf in sheep's clothing

matarlas — (Chi fam) to blow it (colloq)

b) (en sentido hiperbólico)

la vas a matar a disgustos — you'll be the death of her

es para matarlos — I could murder o kill them (colloq)

nos mataban de hambre — they used to starve us

cuando se entere me mata — she'll kill me when she finds out (colloq)

me mata tener que estudiar tanto — it kills me having to study so much (colloq)

me mataste, no tengo ni idea! — (fam) you've really got me there, I haven't a clue! (colloq)

estos zapatos me están matando — these shoes are killing me!

2) (fam) <sed> to quench; <tiempo> to kill

compraron fruta para matar el hambre — they bought some fruit to keep them going

3)

a) <pelota> to kill

b) <carta> to cover

2.

matar vi (causar muerte) to kill

hay miradas que matan — if looks could kill

estar or llevarse a matar — to be at daggers drawn

3.

matarse v pron

1)

a) (morir violentamente)

se mató en un accidente — she was killed in an accident

casi me mato — I almost got killed

b) (refl) (suicidarse) to kill oneself

se mató de un tiro — she shot herself

2) (fam)

a) (esforzarse)

me maté estudiando or (Esp) a estudiar — I studied like crazy o mad (colloq)

se mató trabajando — he nearly killed himself working (colloq)

b) (Méx fam) (para un examen) to cram (colloq), to swot (BrE colloq)

* * *

= do in, kill, murder, massacre, slaughter, slay.

Ex: When I saw what he was up to, I drew back for a punch and hit him so hard on the nose that he fell on his back and lay there for some time, so that his wife stood over him and cried out 'Mercy! You've done my husband in!'.

Ex: He was looking for the book 'Flowers and Bullets and Freedom to kill' = Estaba buscando el libro "Flores, balas y libertad para matar".

Ex: The man who was the real-life Don Juan may not have been murdered for his acts of seduction but for his possible homosexuality and political subversiveness.

Ex: In the 1994 Rwandan genocide, 800,000 people were massacred.

Ex: These small small but very sharp flakes were used by hunters to slaughter animals.

Ex: A bronze statue of David slaying Goliath has been unveiled in Florence today after months of painstaking restoration work.

* Algo que se hace para matar el tiempo = time filler.

* a mata caballo = in a hurry, hurried, hurriedly, helter-skelter.

* ansias de matar = bloodlust.

* así me maten = for the life of me.

* comer Algo para matar el gusanillo = eat + Comida + to keep + Nombre + going.

* deseo de matar = bloodlust.

* disparar a matar = shoot to + kill.

* hay miradas que matan = if looks could kill....

* incapaz de matar una mosca = wouldn't hurt a fly.

* licencia para matar = licence to kill.

* lo que a uno cura a otro mata = one man's meat is another man's poison.

* máquina de matar = killing machine.

* matar a alguien = take + life.

* matar a cuchillazos = stab + Nombre + to death, knife + Nombre + to death.

* matar a disparos = shoot + Nombre + dead.

* matar al enemigo = take + no prisoners.

* matar a palos = beat + Nombre + to death.

* matar a puñaladas = stab + Nombre + to death, stab + Nombre + to death, knife + Nombre + to death.

* matar con gas = gas.

* matar con la mirada = look + daggers at.

* matar de hambre = starve to + death.

* matar de un disparo = shoot, fatally + shoot.

* matar de un manotazo = swat.

* matar el rato = hang around, hang about, pootle, dawdle.

* matar el tiempo = kill + time.

* matar indiscriminadamente = take + no prisoners.

* matarlas callando = wolf in sheep's clothing.

* matarse trabajando = work + Reflexivo + to death, work + Reflexivo + to the ground, work + Posesivo + fingers to the bone.

* sed de matar = bloodlust.

* si las miradas mataran... = if looks could kill....

* tirar a matar = go for + the jugular, deadly force, shoot to + kill.

* * *

matar [A1 ]

vt

A

1 ‹persona› to kill; ‹reses› to slaughter

lo mataron a golpes they beat him to death

lo mató con un cuchillo she stabbed him to death

lo mató un coche he was run over and killed by a car

hubo que matar al caballo the horse had to be put down o destroyed

entrar a matar (Taur) to go in for the kill

la vida que llevas acabará matándote you're going to kill yourself with the sort of life you're leading

entre todos la mataron (y ella sola se murió) (fr hecha); they are all to blame

así me maten or que me maten si no es verdad lo que digo may God strike me dead if I speak a word of a lie

las mata callando he's a wolf in sheep's clothing

matarlas (Chi fam); to blow it (colloq)

2

(en sentido hiperbólico): pobre de tu madre, la vas a matar a disgustos your poor mother, you'll be the death of her

es para matarlos, me hicieron esperar dos horas I could murder o kill them, they kept me waiting for two hours (colloq)

en el colegio nos matan de or (AmL) a hambre they starve us at school

cuando se entere me mata she'll kill me when she finds out (colloq)

me mata tener que levantarme a estas horas it kills me having to get up at this time (colloq)

¡me mataste, no tengo ni idea! (fam); you've really got me there, I haven't a clue! (colloq)

¿sabes que le dieron el puesto a Rodríguez? — ¡no me mates! (fam); you know they gave Rodríguez the job? — you're kidding! (colloq)

estos zapatos me matan these shoes are killing me!

B (fam); ‹sed› to quench

compraron fruta para matar el hambre they bought some fruit to keep them going o to take the edge off their appetite

para matar el tiempo to kill time

C

1 ‹pelota› to kill

2 ‹carta› to cover

■ matar

vi

1 (causar muerte) to kill

no matarás (Bib) thou shalt not kill

hay miradas que matan if looks could kill

estar or llevarse a matar to be at daggers drawn

2

(RPl fam) «vestido/escote»: un escote que mata a sensational low neckline

mataba con ese vestido she looked stunning o (colloq) a knockout in that dress

■ matarse

v pron

A

1

(morir violentamente): se mató en un accidente she was killed in an accident

al bajar del tren casi me mato I almost got killed getting off the train

2 (refl) (suicidarse) to kill oneself

se mató de un tiro she shot herself

B

1 (fam)

(esforzarse): me maté estudiando or (Esp) a estudiar y no aprobé I studied like crazy o mad and still didn't pass (colloq)

no hace falta que te mates haciéndolo there's no need to go crazy o to go mad o to kill yourself (colloq)

2

(Méx fam) «estudiante»: matarse en algo to cram sth (colloq), to swot up (on) sth (BrE colloq)

* * *

 

matar (conjugate matar) verbo transitivo
1

a) ‹persona› to kill

b) (sacrificar) ‹perro/caballo› to put down, destroy;

‹reses› to slaughter;

◊ lo mató un coche he was run over and killed by a car

c) (en sentido hiperbólico):

◊ la vas a matar a disgustos you'll be the death of her;

es para matarlos I could murder o kill them (colloq);
nos mataban de hambre they used to starve us;
estos zapatos me están matando these shoes are killing me!
2 (fam) ‹sed› to quench;
‹tiempo› to kill;

◊ compraron fruta para matar el hambre they bought some fruit to keep them going

verbo intransitivo
to kill
matarse verbo pronominal
1

a) (morir violentamente) to be killed;

◊ casi me mato I almost got killed

b) (refl) (suicidarse) to kill oneself;

◊ se mató de un tiro she shot herself

2 (fam)

a) (esforzarse): me maté estudiando or (Esp) a estudiar I studied like crazy o mad (colloq)

b) (Méx fam) (para un examen) to cram (colloq), to swot (BrE colloq)

matar verbo transitivo
1 (a una persona) to kill
(al ganado) to slaughter
2 (el hambre, la sed, el tiempo) to kill
3 (en exageraciones) el dolor de cabeza me está matando, my headache is killing me
el ruido me mata, noise drives me mad
4 (las aristas) to smooth
5 (sello) to frank
'matar' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
acabar
- pájaro
- rematar
- suerte
- tiempo
- apedrear
- cargar
- disparar
- eliminar
- liquidar
- martirizar
- matanza
- quebrar
- sangre
- terminar
- tirar
- ultimar
English:
bird
- butcher
- club
- dead
- deliberate
- destroy
- do in
- execute
- gun down
- kill
- knock off
- pants
- put off
- shoot
- shoot down
- slaughter
- slay
- time
- trump
- wrong
- cut
- finish
- murder
- strike
- swat

* * *

matar

♦ vt

1. [quitar la vida a] to kill;

[animal] [para consumo] to slaughter;

lo mató un rayo he was struck by lightning and killed;

lo mató un tren he died after being hit by a train;

lo mató de una puñalada/de un tiro en el corazón she killed him with a single stab/shot to the heart;

en este comedor nos matan de hambre the portions are terribly small in this canteen;

lo mataron a puñaladas they stabbed him to death, he was stabbed to death;

lo mataron a tiros they shot him (dead), he was shot (dead);

el alcohol la está matando alcohol is killing her;

Fam Fig

como descubra al responsable, lo mato if I find out who's responsible I'll kill him;

Fam Fig

si se entera me mata she'll kill me if she finds out;

Fam Fig

es para matarte que no sepas eso you ought to be ashamed of yourself not knowing a thing like that;

Comp

matar dos pájaros de un tiro to kill two birds with one stone;

Comp

estar o [m5]llevarse a matar (con alguien) to be at daggers drawn (with sb);

Comp

Fam

matarlas callando [tramar algo] to be up to something on the quiet;

[obrar con hipocresía] to be a wolf in sheep's clothing;

Comp

Fam

que me maten si: que me maten si lo entiendo I'm damned if I can understand it;

que me maten si no ocurrió así I swear to God that's what happened

2. [hacer sufrir, molestar mucho]

¡me vais a matar a disgustos! you'll be the death of me!;

¡este calor/dolor me mata! the heat/pain is killing me!;

¡estos zapatos me están matando! these shoes are killing me!;

me matas con esas tonterías que dices you're driving me mad with all the nonsense you talk!

3. [apagar, hacer pasar] [color] to tone down;

[sed] to quench; [fuego] to put out; [cal] to slake;

mato las horas o [m5]el tiempo viendo la televisión I kill time watching television;

tomaré unas galletas para matar el hambre o [m5]el gusanillo I'll have some Br biscuits o US cookies to keep me going

4. [redondear, limar] to round (off)

5. [en juegos] [carta] to beat, to top;

[ficha, pieza de ajedrez] to take, to capture

6. Fam [destrozar, estropear] to ruin;

no quisiera matar sus ilusiones I don't want to dash your hopes;

el salón es bonito, pero ese cuadro lo mata the living-room is nice, but that picture totally ruins it

♦ vi

to kill;

no matarás [mandamiento] thou shalt not kill;

Comp

hay amores que matan you can love somebody too much;

Comp

hay miradas que matan if looks could kill;

Comp

RP Fam

que mata: tiene un olor que mata it smells disgusting;

con esa mini quedás que matás you look drop-dead gorgeous in that miniskirt

♦ See also the pronominal verb matarse

* * *

matar

I v/t

1 persona, tiempo kill;

matar a tiros shoot dead, shoot to death;

matarlas callando fam be a wolf in sheep’s clothing

2 ganado slaughter

3 hambre satisfy; sed quench, slake

II v/i kill;

no matarás thou shalt not kill;

estar a matar con alguien be at daggers drawn with s.o.

* * *

matar vt

1) : to kill

2) : to slaughter, to butcher

3) apagar: to extinguish, to put out (fire, light)

4) : to tone down (colors)

5) : to pass, to waste (time)

6) : to trump (in card games)

matar vi

: to kill

♦ See also the reflexive verb matarse

* * *

matar vb to kill

dicen que mató a varias personas they say he killed several people