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"Clutching" is a form of "clutch", a noun which is often translated as "el embrague". "Trailed" is a form of "trail", a noun which is often translated as "el sendero". Learn more about the difference between "clutching" and "trailed" below.
clutch(
kluhch
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (automotive)
a. el embrague (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
You need to use the clutch before shifing gears.Hay que usar el embrague antes de cambiar de velocidad.
b. el cloche (M) (Colombia) (Venezuela)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Colombia
Regionalism used in Venezuela
Albert forgot to use the clutch when braking and the car stalled.A Albert se le olvidó meter el cloche al frenar y se le ahogó el motor al carro.
c. el clutch (M) (Central America) (Mexico)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
I'm having trouble shifting. I think the clutch has gone bad.Me cuesta trabajo cambiar de velocidad. Creo que se me fregó el clutch.
d. el pedal de embrague (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I want to get an automatic so I don't have to deal with the clutch.Quiero comprar un carro automático para no tener que preocuparme por el pedal de embrague.
a. la crisis (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Things are looking bad, but don't worry. Jim always comes through in the clutch for us.Las cosas pintan mal, pero no te preocupes. Jim siempre nos saca de la crisis.
4. (purse)
a. la cartera sobre (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
That purse is too big; you need to carry a small clutch to go with with your evening gown.Esa cartera es muy grande; necesitas usar una cartera sobre con tu vestido de gala.
b. el bolso de mano (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I can't even fit my cell phone in this clutch.No me cabe ni el celular en este bolso de mano.
5. (grasp)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Mary felt she'd narrowly escaped the clutches of Death.Mary sintió que por muy poco se había salvado de las garras de la muerte.
Sam made a clutch at the vase, but couldn't catch it before it fell out the window.Sam intentó agarrar el florero, pero no logró atraparlo antes de que se cayera por la ventana.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. tratar de agarrarse de
As my cat fell from the tree, he clutched at my skin.Mi gato se cayó del árbol y trató de agarrarse de mi piel.
b. aferrarse a
Chris clutched at his mother's skirt as they walked through the grocery store.Chris se aferró a la falda de su mamá mientras caminaban por el supermercado.
clutches
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
8. (power)
a. las garras (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
His neighbor lured him into the clutches of the mafia.Su vecino le hizo caer en las garras de la mafia.
trail(
treyl
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (path)
a. el sendero (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Follow the trail to get to the highway.Sigue el sendero para llegar a la carretera.
d. la pista (F) (for skiing)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Before we went skiing every morning, we studied a map with the trails.Todas las mañanas, antes de salir a esquiar, estudiábamos un mapa con las pistas.
2. (trace)
b. la pista (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Even though they have not caught the suspect, police say they are on his trail.Aunque no han alcanzado al sospechoso, la policía dice que está sobre su pista.
3. (wake)
b. el reguero (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
World War II left a trail of crimes against humanity in its path.La Segunda Guerra Mundial dejó un reguero de crímenes contra la humanidad a su paso.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (to drag)
a. arrastrar
Fran trailed her blanket around everywhere when she was a baby.Fran arrastraba su cobija por todos lados cuando era bebé.
5. (to follow)
b. seguir el rastro
She allowed her eyes to trail the man for only a second.Permitió que sus ojos siguieran el rastro del hombre solo por un segundo.
a. ir a la zaga
The local team trails its rival in the national rankings.El equipo local va a la zaga de su rival en la clasificación nacional.
7. (to dirty)
a. dejar
Take your boots off; you're trailing mud all over the carpet!Quítate las botas; ¡estás dejando lodo por todo el tapete!
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to drag)
a. arrastrar
Zeke's bat trailed behind him as he trudged home after losing the game.El bate de Zeke arrastraba detrás de él mientras caminaba a casa después de perder el partido.
a. ir a la zaga
At halftime our team was still trailing.A medio tiempo nuestro equipo todavía iba a la zaga.
10. (to dangle)
a. colgar
Vines trail from balconies in New Orleans in the summer.Las parras cuelgan de los balcones en Nueva Orleans en el verano.
a. patear
We trailed around my cousin's new plot of land all morning.Pateamos por el nuevo terreno de mi primo toda la mañana.
