How does the phrase "crawling around" translate into Spanish?

Question

In today's "Picture of the Day" thread, I used this expression:

*Esa es una mariquita valiente que esta arrastranda alrededor en el pelo!***

That is a brave ladybug that is crawling around in his hair!

I hope Cogumela doesn't mind me quoting her here, but I am at a loss as to how to explain this.

I didn't know that phrasal verb, "to crawl around", and even looking it up, I can't figure out what you mean: the part "esta arrastrando alrededor en el pelo" is not correct. But I can't hep, because I don't understand - cogumela hace 1 hora

In English, I have heard this expression my entire life ("to crawl around"; "crawling around"; crawling up a wall, etc).

Can anyone help so that I can make the proper corrections in Spanish?

Thanks in advance!!!

Answer 1

Hi Nicole, it is actually difficult to explain.

Crawl can be arrastrarse por el pelo.

However, we use arrastrarse when we are talking about something without legs or feet (a snake for example, a soldier crawling on the ground)

So we must use andar,,,,as the insect is using feet.

¡Mira esa mariquita! ¡Qué valiente es de darse una vuelta por el pelo de ese bicho!

En inglés crawl puede ser con o sin piernas....crawl lo hacen los insectos, las serpientes...., los bebés (gataer).

Hehe! Thanks Heidi! I must confess that I had not seen the ladybug :) That woud have helped! - cogumela, May 9, 2011

Thanks Heidi, I didn't know that arrastarse was used for animals without feet. Now I will never forget. :) - Nicole-B, May 9, 2011

I think that's spelled arrastrarse. - pesta, May 9, 2011