La palabra del día: rayar

Question

rayar - to scratch; to scrawl; to border; to get paid (Mex)

Post your sentences in Spanish and English, then vote for the ones you like. The best answer will be chosen tomorrow on the basis of the greatest number of votes and language correctness.

And don't forget to correct your posts as suggested.

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Su confianza en sí mismo raya en la arrogancia.

His self-confidence borders on arrogance.

Corregid mi español, por favor :)) - Issabela, Mar 11, 2010

You sentence in Spanish is perfect. - zeelander, Mar 11, 2010

I would say "raya la arrogancia" with 'en' sounds like you are scratching something material and arrogancia isn't. - Zizoun, Mar 11, 2010

Thanks zizoun - but I´ve checked in two dictionaries and "rayar en algo" means "border on sth" - Issabela, Mar 11, 2010

Yup, normally to those kind of sentences we remove the article... "Tu respuesta raya la ignorancia" "Mi sobronio rayó (scratched) en el coche con las llaves". But wait for more opinions ;=) - Zizoun, Mar 11, 2010

I think you are right, I was checking around in the internet and I saw only sentences with rayar en. I guess is just my bad usage of language sometimes :P (Sometimes tv, radio they change the language for incorrections xD) - Zizoun, Mar 11, 2010

I know - I'm sure that from time to time I also make mistakes using my native language. - Issabela, Mar 11, 2010

I think your sentence is correct Isaa... I ususally say "... raya en el mal gusto" :) - Benz, Mar 11, 2010

I've consulted rae, spanishdict and wordreference - they all give the same answer - Issabela, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 1

Las balas rayan el Cañón de una pistola, dejando rastros específicos que puedan vincular el arma a otros crímenes!

The bullets scratch the barrel of a gun leaving specific traces that can link the weapon to other crimes.

weapon Cup a joe for you Joe!Good morning - nizhoni1, Mar 11, 2010

crímenes - Benz, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 2

Accidentalmente rayé la puerta del carro con el carrito del supermercado (By accident I scratched the door's car with the supermarket cart)

:) - renaerules, Mar 11, 2010

The car's door :) - renaerules, Mar 11, 2010

Please, correct your post :) - Issabela, Mar 12, 2010

Answer 3

Déjame que raye mi nombre en tú corazón!

Let me write my name on your heart!

Déjame ... tú corazón - Fidalgo, Mar 11, 2010

tu without cap - Zizoun, Mar 11, 2010

dibujar, escribir, garabatear sound better than "rayar" Renae. Rayar is to scratch :) - Benz, Mar 11, 2010

(Ah, sorry, I had a mistake as Zizoun showed) ... en tU corazón - Fidalgo, Mar 11, 2010

An alternative translation would be engrave or scrawl but write read better. - renaerules, Mar 11, 2010

this sentencedoes not sound correct. déjame que raye or permíteme que raye mi nombre, even though rayar does sound weird in this context. - 00494d19, Mar 11, 2010

might sound normal if you are evil? - nizhoni1, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 4

Yup, normally to those kind of sentences we remove the article... "Tu respuesta raya la ignorancia"

Pues no sé ziz, yo lo digo igual.

Resultados 1 - 10 de aproximadamente 24.800 de "esto raya la".

Esto raya en lo absurdo.

pero

Esto raya la ridiculez.

1. intr. Dicho de una cosa: Asemejarse a otra, acercarse a igualarla. Rayar EN lo ridículo.

This is what I was looking for:

1. intr. Dicho de una cosa: Confinar con otra.

confinar: lindar con.

Issa, read PM.

than could you explain the difference in meaning with en and without it, when meaning "to border on"? - Issabela, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 5

Be careful not to scratch the wooden floor with those boots.

Ten cuidado de no rayar el suelo de madera con esas botas.

scratch....the....with....those - renaerules, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 6

Sí rayas la espalda mía, rayaré la tuya.

If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.

(thanks to CrazyDiamond for the idea )

Si rascas mi espalda, yo rascaré la tuya :) - Benz, Mar 11, 2010

see above for question about mi espalda vs. la espalda, anyone have a quick answer? - Morethan3words, Mar 12, 2010

Answer 7

Rayas mi espalda, por favor,.

Please scratch my back.

Raya la espalda... - Morethan3words, Mar 11, 2010

In that case I'd say "Rasca mi espalda por favor?" Do Spaniards say rayar la espalda?? - Benz, Mar 11, 2010

no, rayar no se usa - 00494d19, Mar 11, 2010

Eek, scratch this entry. - CrazyDiamond, Mar 11, 2010

wait, but I'm curious about the mi espada vs la espada, I had always been told you shouldn't use a possesive with body parts, was I led astray? - Morethan3words, Mar 12, 2010

*espalda, not sword - Morethan3words, Mar 12, 2010

Answer 8

Algúnos empresarios no comprenden nadas de rayando de la empresa. Some managers do not comprehend anything of "scrawlings' of the firm.

Answer 9

La última vez que usé los lentes de contacto, me rayé la córnea.

The last time I wore contact lenses, I scratched a cornea.

... scratched my cornea. - Morethan3words, Mar 11, 2010

me rayé la córnea (ouch!) - Benz, Mar 11, 2010

It's not true, Benz. I was just thinking of something that would scratch! ; - mar959, Mar 11, 2010

it still hurts to think about it - nizhoni1, Mar 11, 2010

I know. I worked in a medical profession for 30 years, and eye stuff still bothers me! - mar959, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 10

Rayaron sus iniciales en el tronco del arbol viejo.

They scratched their initials in the trunk of the old tree.

Corrigen mi español, por favor.

I would say "inscribieron" or "grabaron" sus iniciales. - Mokay, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 11

Lentamente, el significado de las palabras comenzaron a rayo el día en él. Slowly the significance of the words began to dawn on him.