palo

m.

1 stick (trozo de madera).

los palos de la tienda de campaña the tent poles

a palo seco (informal) without anything else, on its own; (sin nada más) neat (bebida)

dar palos de ciego (figurative) to lash out (wildly); (criticar) to grope around in the dark (no saber qué hacer)

de tal palo tal astilla (Prov) he's/she's a chip off the old block

2 club.

estrellaron tres disparos en los palos they hit the woodwork three times

3 mast.

palo mayor mainmast

4 suit.

5 tree (botany).

palo santo lignum vitae

6 blow (blow).

se ha llevado muchos palos últimamente (with a stick)(mala crítica) he's had to put up with a lot recently

liarse a palos (con alguien) to come to blows (with somebody)

moler a alguien a palos to thrash somebody

7 piece of wood, log, piece of timber.

8 hit, blow, whack.

9 tent stake, tent pole.

* * *

palo

► nombre masculino

1 (estaca) stick; (de valla) post; (de telégrafos) pole

2 (golpe) blow

■ le pegaron un palo que casi lo matan they almost beat him to death

■ ha sido un palo que se las supendieran todas what a drag that he's failed every subject!

3 (madera) wood

4 (de la letra) stroke

■ haz el palo de la "p" más largo make the stroke of the "p" longer

5 (de baraja) suit

6 MARÍTIMO mast

7 DEPORTE (de una portería) goal post

8 (de golf) club

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

a palo seco (comida) on its own 2 (bebida) neat

dar palos to beat

dar palos de ciego to grope about in the dark

de tal palo tal astila like father like son

echar a palos to kick out

estar hecho,-a un palo familiar to be as thin as a rake

no dar un palo al agua familiar not to do a stroke

palo de escoba broomstick

palo de golf golf club

palo dulce liquorice

palo mayor mainmast

* * *

noun m.

stick

* * *

SM

1) (=vara) [de poco grosor] stick; [fijo en el suelo] post; [de telégrafos, tienda de campaña] pole; [de herramienta] handle, shaft

le pegó con un palo — he hit him with a stick

las gallinas estaban subidas en el palo — the hens were sitting on the perch

el palo de la fregona — the mop handle

• política de palo y zanahoria — carrot and stick policy

- estar hecho un palo

- meter palos en las ruedas

más tieso que un palo —

andaba más tieso que un palo — he walked bolt upright

te voy a poner más tieso que un palo — I'm going to give you a good hiding

- de tal palo tal astilla

palo de amasar — Arg, Uru rolling pin

palo de escoba — broomstick

palo ensebado — greasy pole

2) (=madera)

cuchara de palo — wooden spoon

pata de palo — wooden leg, peg leg

3) (=golpe) blow

un par de palos es lo que tú necesitas — what you need is a good hiding

• dar o pegar un palo a algn — (=golpear) to hit sb with a stick; * (=timar) to rip sb off *

los críticos le dieron un palo a la obra — the critics slated the play *

vaya palo me pegaron en ese restaurante — they really ripped me off in that restaurant *

dar de palos a algn — to give sb a beating

- andar a palos

- dar palos de ciego

- no dar o pegar ni palo al agua

- moler a algn a palos

ni a palos * —

ni a palos va a aprender la lección — there's no way he's going to learn the lesson *

ni a palos me voy yo de aquí dejándote sola — wild horses wouldn't make me go off and leave you on your own, there's no way I would go off and leave you on your own *

4) * (=disgusto) bummer **, nightmare *

es un palo que te bajen el sueldo — it's a real bummer ** o nightmare * that they're cutting your salary

¡qué palo si suspendo! — it'll be a real bummer ** o nightmare * if I fail!

• dar palo, me daría palo que se enterase — I would hate it if he found out

• llevarse un palo, nos llevamos un palo muy gordo cuando descubrimos la verdad — it was a real blow when we found out the truth

Manuel se ha llevado un gran palo con Luisa — Manuel has been badly let down by Luisa

5) (Náut) mast

- a palo seco

[comer, beber]

nos tomamos el vino a palo seco — we had the wine on its own

nos comimos el jamón a palo seco — we had the ham on its own, we had the ham with nothing to wash it down

no pasa un día a palo seco — Ven he never goes a single day without a drink

vermut a palo seco — straight vermouth

- que cada palo aguante su vela

palo de mesana — mizzenmast

palo de trinquete — foremast

palo mayor — mainmast

6) (Dep)

a) [de portería] post

el balón se coló entre los palos — the ball went between the posts

b) [para golpear] [en hockey] stick; [en golf] club

palo de golf — golf club

7) (=de uva) stalk

8) (Tip) [de b, d] upstroke; [de p, q] downstroke

hace los palos muy largos — he makes long strokes

9) (Naipes) suit

cambiar de palo — to change suit

seguir el palo — to follow suit

palo del triunfo — trump suit, trumps pl

10) (Mús) [en flamenco] style

11) esp LAm (Bot) tree

palo de hule — CAm rubber tree

palo de mango — mango tree

palo dulce — liquorice root

palo (de) rosa — rosewood

palo santo — lignum vitae

12) Ven * [de licor] swig *, slug *

pegarse unos palos — to have a few drinks

- darse al palo

- a medio palo

13) Chile

*

- tirar el palo

palo blanco — man of straw

palo grueso — big shot *

14) Méx *** (=acto sexual) screw ***

echar un palo — to have a screw ***

15) Col, Ven

un palo de: un palo de casa — a marvellous house

es un palo de hombre — he's a great guy

cayó un palo de agua — the rain came pouring down, there was a huge downpour *

* * *

masculino

1)

a) (trozo de madera) stick; (de valla, portería) post; (de herramienta) handle; (de telégrafos) pole; (de tienda, carpa) tent pole

palo de escoba — broomstick, broomhandle

clavar un palo en la tierra — to drive a stake into the ground

(flaco) como un palo — (fam) as thin as a rake o rail

más tieso que un palo — as stiff as a board

de tal palo, tal astilla — a chip off the old block, like father like son (o like mother like daughter etc)

b) (AmC, Col fam) (árbol) tree

c) (Dep) (de golf) (golf) club; (de hockey) hockey stick

d) (Náut) mast

a palo seco — (fam)

se lo comió a palo seco — she ate it on its own

me lo dijo a palo seco — she told me outright

e) palos masculino plural (Equ) rails (pl)

- palo de amasar

- palo de mayo

- palo grueso

- palo mayor

2) (madera) wood

no está el palo para cucharas — (Col fam) the time isn't right

- palo de rosa

- palo dulce

3) (Impr) (de la b, d) ascender; (de la p, q) descender

4)

a) (fam) (golpe) blow (with a stick)

lo molieron a palos — they beat him till he was black and blue

dar palos de ciego — (al pelear) to lash o strike out blindly; (al resolver un problema) to grope in the dark

ni a palo(s) — (AmS) no way

palos porque bogas, palos porque no bogas — you can't win

b) (fam) (revés, daño) blow

c) (fam) (en cuestiones de dinero)

darle or pegarle un palo a alguien — to rip somebody off (colloq)

5) (en naipes) suit

seguir el palo — to follow suit

6) (AmL arg) (millón) million pesos (o soles etc)

7) (Ven fam) (trago) drink

8) (Col, Ven fam) (de agua)

cayó un palo de agua — it poured (with rain), it poured down

* * *

= handle, stick, lance.

Ex. The ball pelts, which were usually sheepskin, were fixed to the handles with nails which were only lightly knocked in, and were removed after the day's work (and often during the midday break as well).

Ex. Any sport that involves a stick or racket, a ball or other projectile, or body contact presents a risk of serious eye injury.

Ex. Hoses 60 m long with hand held lances were used to apply the herbicides.

----

* botón en forma de palo = toggle fastener.

* dar palos de ciego = grope (for/toward).

* delgado como un palo = stick-thin.

* de tal palo tal astilla = a chip off the old block, like father, like son.

* en casa de herrero cuchillo de palo = the cobbler's children run barefoot.

* llevarse un palo = be gutted, feel + gutted.

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

* palo de golf = golf club.

* palo de (la) escoba = broomstick.

* palo de rosa = rosewood.

* palo largo para alcanzar Algo = long-handled reacher.

* palos al aire = a stab in the dark.

* palos de ciego = a stab in the dark, a shot in the dark.

* palos de ciego, palos al aire = a shot in the dark.

* * *

masculino

1)

a) (trozo de madera) stick; (de valla, portería) post; (de herramienta) handle; (de telégrafos) pole; (de tienda, carpa) tent pole

palo de escoba — broomstick, broomhandle

clavar un palo en la tierra — to drive a stake into the ground

(flaco) como un palo — (fam) as thin as a rake o rail

más tieso que un palo — as stiff as a board

de tal palo, tal astilla — a chip off the old block, like father like son (o like mother like daughter etc)

b) (AmC, Col fam) (árbol) tree

c) (Dep) (de golf) (golf) club; (de hockey) hockey stick

d) (Náut) mast

a palo seco — (fam)

se lo comió a palo seco — she ate it on its own

me lo dijo a palo seco — she told me outright

e) palos masculino plural (Equ) rails (pl)

- palo de amasar

- palo de mayo

- palo grueso

- palo mayor

2) (madera) wood

no está el palo para cucharas — (Col fam) the time isn't right

- palo de rosa

- palo dulce

3) (Impr) (de la b, d) ascender; (de la p, q) descender

4)

a) (fam) (golpe) blow (with a stick)

lo molieron a palos — they beat him till he was black and blue

dar palos de ciego — (al pelear) to lash o strike out blindly; (al resolver un problema) to grope in the dark

ni a palo(s) — (AmS) no way

palos porque bogas, palos porque no bogas — you can't win

b) (fam) (revés, daño) blow

c) (fam) (en cuestiones de dinero)

darle or pegarle un palo a alguien — to rip somebody off (colloq)

5) (en naipes) suit

seguir el palo — to follow suit

6) (AmL arg) (millón) million pesos (o soles etc)

7) (Ven fam) (trago) drink

8) (Col, Ven fam) (de agua)

cayó un palo de agua — it poured (with rain), it poured down

* * *

= handle, stick, lance.

Ex: The ball pelts, which were usually sheepskin, were fixed to the handles with nails which were only lightly knocked in, and were removed after the day's work (and often during the midday break as well).

Ex: Any sport that involves a stick or racket, a ball or other projectile, or body contact presents a risk of serious eye injury.

Ex: Hoses 60 m long with hand held lances were used to apply the herbicides.

* botón en forma de palo = toggle fastener.

* dar palos de ciego = grope (for/toward).

* delgado como un palo = stick-thin.

* de tal palo tal astilla = a chip off the old block, like father, like son.

* en casa de herrero cuchillo de palo = the cobbler's children run barefoot.

* llevarse un palo = be gutted, feel + gutted.

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

* palo de golf = golf club.

* palo de (la) escoba = broomstick.

* palo de rosa = rosewood.

* palo largo para alcanzar Algo = long-handled reacher.

* palos al aire = a stab in the dark.

* palos de ciego = a stab in the dark, a shot in the dark.

* palos de ciego, palos al aire = a shot in the dark.

* * *

palo

masculine

A

1 (trozo de madera) stick; (de una valla) post; (de una herramienta) handle; (de telégrafos) pole

clavar un palo en la tierra to drive a stake into the ground

la pelota dio en el palo the ball hit the post o goalpost

el palo de la escoba the broomstick o broomhandle

me pegaba con un palo he used to hit me with a stick

estar (flaco) como un palo (fam); to be as thin as a rake

más tieso que un palo as stiff as a board o (BrE) poker

de tal palo, tal astilla a chip off the old block, like father like son ( o like mother like daughter etc)

2 (de una tienda, carpa) tent pole

3 (AmC, Col fam) (árbol) tree

4 (Dep) (de golf) club, golf club; (de hockey) hockey stick

5 (de un polo) stick

6 (Náut) mast

a palo seco (fam); under bare poles

se lo comió a palo seco she ate it on its own

no me gusta beberlo a palo seco I don't like drinking it without eating anything

me lo dijo a palo seco she told me outright o (BrE) straight out

le pagaron los $10, a palo seco he was paid the $10 and not a penny more o and that was it

le sacaron la muela a palo seco he had the tooth taken out with no anesthetic

que cada palo aguante su vela each of us must face up to our own responsibilities

7 palos mpl (Equ) rails (pl)

iba por los palos he was staying close to the rails

Compuestos:

● palo de amasar

(RPl) rolling pin

● palo de mayo

(AmC) style of music and dance from the Atlantic coast

● palo de mesana

mizzenmast

● palo de trinquete

foremast

● palo ensebado

greasy pole

● palo grueso

(Chi fam) fat cat (colloq)

● palo mayor

mainmast

B (madera) wood pata¹ (↑ pata (1))

los de afuera son de palo (RPl); those not in the game, keep quiet

no está el palo para cucharas (Col fam); the time isn't right, circumstances are not favorable

Compuestos:

● palo blanco

A (Bot) paradise tree

B (Chi) (testaferro) front man, figurehead

● palo de rosa

rosewood

● palo dulce

licorice*

● palo santo

lignum vitae

C (Impr) (de la b, d) ascender; (de la p, q) descender

Compuesto:

palo bastón

sans serif, sanserif

D

1 (fam) (golpe) blow (with a stick)

le dieron un palo en la cabeza he got whacked on the head with a stick (colloq)

lo molieron a palos they beat him till he was black and blue

dar palos de ciego (al pelear) to lash o strike out blindly; (para resolver un problema) to grope in the dark

ni a palo(s) (AmS); no way

ni a palo(s) van a lograr que retire lo dicho there's no way they'll get me to take back what I said

palos porque bogas, palos porque no bogas you can't win

2 (fam) (revés, daño) blow

el accidente de su hijo fue un palo muy gordo his son's accident was a terrible blow

¡qué palo! han perdido otra vez what a downer! they've lost again (colloq)

el libro recibió un buen palo de la crítica the book was panned o (AmE) roasted o (BrE) slated by the critics

3 (fam)

(en cuestiones de dinero): darle or pegarle un palo a algn to rip sb off (colloq)

E (en naipes) suit

seguir el palo to follow suit

F (AmL arg) (millón) million pesos ( o soles etc)

G (Ven fam) (trago) drink

vamos a echar unos palos let's have a drink

H

(Méx vulg) (en sentido sexual): echarse un palo to have a screw (vulg)

I

1

(Col, Ven fam) (de agua): ayer cayó un palo de agua it poured (with rain) yesterday, it poured down yesterday

2 (Col fam) (caballo) outsider, long shot; (persona) outsider

* * *

 

palo sustantivo masculino
1

a) (trozo de madera) stick;

(de valla, portería) post;
(de herramienta) handle;
(de tienda, carpa) tent pole;

◊ palo de escoba broomstick, broomhandle;

de tal palo, tal astilla a chip off the old block, like father like son (o like mother like daughter etc)

b) (AmC, Col fam) (árbol) tree

c) (Dep) (de golf) (golf) club;

(de hockey) hockey stick

d) (Náut) mast;

◊ palo mayor mainmast

2 (madera) wood;

◊ cuchara de palo wooden spoon

3 (fam) (golpe) blow (with a stick);

◊ lo molieron a palos they beat him till he was black and blue

4 (en naipes) suit
palo sustantivo masculino
1 stick: este queso está más seco que un palo, this cheese is as dry as dust
su hermano está como un palo, his brother is as thin as a rake
2 (estacazo) blow
3 fam (disgusto, golpe) blow: su muerte ha sido un palo para ella, his death was a real blow to her
me da palo tener que decírselo yo, I'm really cut up about having to tell her
(decepción) disappointment: menudo palo nos dio cuando nos dijeron que no cantaría, it was a real disappointment to us when we heard that he wasn't going to sing
(rollo) drag
4 (madera) una cuchara/pata de palo, a wooden spoon/ leg
5 Náut (mástil) mast
palo mayor, mainmast
6 Dep (de portería) woodwork
7 Golf club
8 Naipes suit
♦ Locuciones: moler a palos a alguien, to beat sb up
a palo seco, on its own
de tal palo, tal astilla, like father, like son
'palo' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
astilla
- caballito
- estaca
- garrote
- hisopo
- jarabe
- tranca
- trinquete
- vara
- verga
- bolo
- cachiporra
- corazón
- empuñar
- espada
- extremo
- helado
- oro
- partir
- pata
- pica
- pique
- rombo
- trébol
- triunfo
English:
broomstick
- carrot
- chip
- club
- drive
- end
- father
- golf club
- like
- pointed
- Pole
- ram
- rosewood
- shaft
- stake
- stick
- stout
- stroke
- suit
- taper
- wave
- wooden
- broom
- dead
- golf
- pole
- spar
- wood

* * *

palo nm

1. [trozo de madera] stick;

palo de escoba broomhandle;

los palos de la tienda de campaña the tent poles;

Comp

Fam

como un palo [flaco] as thin as a rake;

Prov

de tal palo, tal astilla like father like son

Comp

RP palo de amasar rolling pin

2. [de golf] club;

[de hockey] stick

3. [de portería] [laterales] post;

[larguero] bar;

estrellaron tres disparos en los palos they hit the woodwork three times

4. [mástil] mast;

Comp

Fam

a palo seco [sin nada más] without anything else, on its own;

[bebida] neat;

Comp

que cada palo aguante su vela each of us is responsible for his/her own affairs

Comp

palo mayor mainmast;

palo de mesana mizzenmast;

palo de trinquete foremast

5. [golpe] blow (with a stick);

dar de palos a alguien to beat o hit sb (with a stick);

liarse a palos (con alguien) to come to blows (with sb);

moler a alguien a palos to thrash sb (with a stick);

Comp

dar palos de ciego [criticar] to lash out (wildly);

[no saber qué hacer] to grope around in the dark;

Comp

Andes, RP Fam

ni a palos: eso no lo hago ni a palos there's no way I'm going to do that;

Comp

Fam

no dar o [m5]pegar un palo al agua not to do a stroke of work

6. [mala crítica] bad review;

se llevó muchos palos de la crítica she was panned by the critics

7. Fam [desgracia, trauma] blow;

¡qué palo, me han suspendido! what a drag, I've failed!;

se ha llevado muchos palos últimamente he's had to put up with a lot recently

8. Fam [reparo]

me da palo hacerlo/decirlo I hate having to do/say it;

prefiero que se lo digas tú, a mí me da mucho palo I'd rather you told him, I really don't want to

9. Fam [pesadez] pain, drag;

da mucho palo ponerse a estudiar en verano it's a pain o drag having to start studying during the summer

10. Fam [atraco, robo]

darle un palo a alguien [por la calle] to mug sb;

dar un palo en un banco to stick up a bank

11. [de baraja] suit

12. Imprenta [en letra] stroke

13. [de cante flamenco] = style of flamenco singing;

Comp

Fam

tocar todos los palos [hacer de todo] to do a bit of everything

14. [madera]

de palo wooden;

una cuchara de palo a wooden spoon;

Am

no ser de palo not to be made of stone;

RP Fam

los de afuera son de palo outsiders have no say

Comp

palo de rosa rosewood

15. Am [árbol, arbusto] tree

Comp

palo borracho silk floss tree;

palo de Brasil brazil wood tree;

palo dulce liquorice root;

palo santo lignum vitae

16. Carib Fam [trago, copa] drink

17. Am Fam [millón] million;

esa casa vale dos palos y medio this house is worth two and a half million

Comp

un palo verde a million bucks

18. Col, Méx, Pan, Ven Fam [como intensificador]

palo de hombre great man;

palo de mujer real beauty;

palo de agua [aguacero] downpour, deluge of rain

19. Comp

Cuba, Méx muy Fam

echarse un palo to have a screw, Br to have it off;

Ven Fam

echar un palo to have a drink;

Ven Fam

ir o [m5]venir palo abajo to go downhill, to go from bad to worse

* * *

palo

m

1 de madera etc stick;

de tal palo tal astilla a chip off the old block fam ;

dar palos de ciego (no saber cómo actuar) grope in the dark; (criticar) lash out wildly

2 MAR mast;

que cada palo aguante su vela everybody has to stand up and be counted

3 de portería post, upright

4 fig

blow

5

:

a medio palo L.Am. half-drunk;

a palo seco whiskey straight up

6 L.Am.

ser un palo be fantastic

7

:

echarse un palo Méx vulg have a screw vulg

* * *

palo nm

1) : stick, pole, post

2) : shaft, handle

palo de escoba: broomstick

3) : mast, spar

4) : wood

5) : blow (with a stick)

6) : suit (of cards)

* * *

palo n

1. (vara) stick

2. (mástil) mast

3. (de golf) club

4. (de fútbol) post

el balón dio en el palo the ball hit the post

5. (de hockey) stick

6. (disgusto) blow

¡qué palo! what a blow!

7. (de la baraja) suit

a palo seco on its own

dar de palos to hit with a stick

dio de palos a la serpiente he hit the snake with a stick

dar un palo to hit with a stick

le dio al burro un palo he hit the donkey with a stick

de palo wooden

una cuchara de palo wooden spoon

de tal palo tal astilla like father like son

palo de escoba broomstick

palo de telégrafo telegraph post