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"Shatter" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "hacer añicos", and "break up" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "separarse". Learn more about the difference between "shatter" and "break up" below.
shatter(
shah
-
duhr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to break)
a. hacer añicos
We were playing catch, and Juan accidentally shattered our neighbor's window.Estábamos jugando a la pelota, y por accidente Juan hizo añicos la ventana de nuestro vecino.
b. hacer pedazos
The man got out of his car, angrily picked up a rock, and shattered my windshield.El hombre bajó de su carro, recogió una piedra furiosamente e hizo pedazos mi parabrisas.
2. (to destroy)
a. destrozar
Philip's recent illness absolutely shattered his immune system.La enfermedad reciente de Philip le destrozó el sistema inmunológico.
b. destruir
Jimmy's illusions were shattered when he realized that Santa Claus didn't exist.Las ilusiones de Jimmy fueron destruidas cuando se enteró que Papá Noel no existía.
3. (figurative) (to break)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. romper (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
The early morning silence was shattered by a gun shot.Un disparo rompió el silencio de la madrugada.
4. (colloquial) (to exhaust) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
a. dejar hecho polvo
Running eight miles uphill really shattered me this morning.Correr ocho millas cuesta arriba realmente me dejó hecho polvo esta mañana.
b. agotar
Hot yoga can really shatter you if you're not used to it.El yoga caliente te puede agotar si no estás acostumbrado.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. hacerse añicos
A window of the auditorium shattered when the soprano hit the high note.Una ventana del auditorio se hizo añicos cuando la soprano llegó a la nota alta.
b. hacerse pedazos
The Bohemian crystal goblet shattered when it hit the floor.La copa de cristal de Bohemia se hizo pedazos cuando chocó contra el suelo.
break up(
breyk
uhp
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. separarse
Breaking up is never easy, whether in romance or business.Separarse nunca es sencillo, ya sea en el amor o en los negocios.
a. desintegrarse
The heavy rains caused the rocks in the quarry to break up into sediment.Las fuertes lluvias hicieron que las piedras de la cantera se desintegraran hasta convertirse en sedimento.
b. deshacerse
If you add some water to the gravy and whisk vigorously, the lumps will break up.Si añades un poco de agua al jugo de carne y bates enérgicamente, los grumos se desharán.
a. terminar
After our final exams, school will break up.Después de nuestros exámenes finales, la escuela terminará.
b. empezar las vacaciones
Do you break up this week or next week?¿Empiezas las vacaciones esta semana o la semana que viene?
a. reírse a carcajadas
This comedian is great. He has the audience breaking up every time.Este comediante es excelente. Siempre hace que el público se ría a carcajadas.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. dispersar
The police officers broke up the crowd that had gathered in the business district.Los policías dispersaron a la muchedumbre que se había reunido en el distrito comercial.
b. poner fin a
The two teachers broke up the fight in the hallway.Los dos maestros pusieron fin a la pelea que había en el pasillo.
c. desarticular
The primary aim of our police force has been to break up the street gangs that terrorize our city.El objetivo principal de nuestro cuerpo de policía es desarticular las bandas callejeras que aterrorizan nuestra ciudad.
d. dividir
Don't listen to their rumors. They just want to break up our group.No hagas caso a sus rumores. Solo quieren dividir a nuestro grupo.
a. desguazar
The crew broke up the ships to salvage metal that the airplane factory could use.La tripulación desguazó los barcos para reciclar el metal que la fábrica de aviones podría usar.
