arranco = me pongo en marcha

Question

Is this right? arrancar is very frustrating because it has such disparate meanings. Our dictionary lists the main meaning as "to tear out" but I guess it can mean "to set out/off" or "to start".

So based on that arranco, should mean the same as "me pongo en marcha". Isn't that right? Gracias.

Edit: Or would "arranca" be right if you were in a car or on a bike. It's setting out, starting off now. Gracias.

To "uproot" can sometimes mean to put in motion. - 0074b507, Aug 28, 2010

Answer 1

Jeezle has just robbed a bank. His accomplice is waiting in the car. Jeezle comes out with the loot, jumps in the car and yells: "¡Arranca!" - "Get going!"

Jeezle is watching one of his weird TV shows when his brand-new girlfriend calls and says: "Jeezzee-boy, It's so hot in here, and I'm feeling so uncomfortable! I really need a cold, luscious chocolate ice cream right now!" So Jeezle, always a gentleman, jumps up and says "Arranco ahora mismo" "I'm off like a shot!"

Awesome. So what do you think about our dictionaries main meaning of "to tear out" is that right at all, like to tear out a plant from the ground, or is better to think of arrancar as you've described here? Gracias. - jeezzle, Aug 28, 2010

That is *another* meaning of the word. Actually, a more literal one. "Arranco" as "take off" is an idiom. - Gekkosan, Aug 28, 2010

Answer 2

what arrancar entails with a coche

I would have like to have read this discussion if the car had a manual transmission with a clutch. (to see it described in Spanish).

There are so many idioms being used in that discussion is not even funny! Might be an interesting translation exercise! - Gekkosan, Aug 28, 2010

And, La Marcha also means Starter Motor :- ) - 005faa61, Aug 28, 2010

Answer 3

Look at Reverse Dictionary again jeezzle! It really has a lot of meanings. :/

http://dictionary.reverso.net/spanish-english/arrancar

Arrancar (=moverse) to get going, get moving

¡venga, arranca! * come on, get going o get moving!, come on, get a move on! *

Wow. That is a seriously long dictionary entry. - MacFadden, Aug 28, 2010