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"Trip over" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "tropezar", and "trip up" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "confundir". Learn more about the difference between "trip over" and "trip up" below.
trip over(
trihp
o
-
vuhr
)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. tropezar
Watch you don't trip over. This room's a mess.Cuidado, no vayas a tropezar. Este cuarto es un desastre.
b. tropezar y caerse
Tommy tripped over when I wasn't looking and hit his head.Mientras yo estaba distraída, Tommy tropezó y se cayó y se dio un golpe en la cabeza.
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. tropezarse con
I tripped over a rug and fell flat on my face.Me tropecé con una alfombra y me di de bruces con el suelo.
b. tropezar con
Nigel tripped over a toy in the dark and fell down the stairs.En medio de la oscuridad, Nigel tropezó con un juguete y se cayó por la escalera.
a. atrancarse con
Susie keeps tripping over words when reading.Susie suele atrancarse con las palabras cuando lee.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I tried to explain what had happened, but I kept tripping over the words.Traté de explicar lo que había pasado, pero se me trababa la lengua.
My dad often trips over words when he's on the phone.A mi padre suele trabársele la lengua cuando habla por teléfono.
trip up(
trihp
uhp
)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. confundir
Be quiet, will you! You tripped me up again.¡Quieren hacer el favor de callarse! Me volvieron a confundir.
b. hacer equivocarse
Just for laughs we would trip him up while he was counting.Por pura diversión lo hacíamos equivocarse mientras contaba.
c. meter el pie a (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
It wasn't his fault. Somebody tripped him up.No fue culpa suya. Alguien le metió el pie.
a. meter el pie a
Somebody tripped me up as I was walking down the aisle.Alguien me metió el pie cuando iba por el pasillo.
b. hacer la zancadilla a
One of her classmates tripped her up as she was going to the blackboard.Una de sus compañeras de clase le hizo la zancadilla cuando salía a la pizarra.
c. poner la zancadilla a
One of the other team's defenders tripped me up and I fell.Uno de los defensores del otro equipo me puso la zancadilla y caí.
d. echar la zancadilla a
I don't know how I fell. Someone must have tripped me up.No sé cómo me caí. Alguien debió de echarme la zancadilla.
e. hacer tropezar (accidentally)
The cables that were on the floor tripped me up.Los cables que había en el suelo me hicieron tropezar.
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. equivocarse
I'm afraid I tripped up on a few questions in the exam.Me temo que me equivoqué en algunas preguntas del examen.
b. meter la pata (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
It's only a matter of time before Johnny trips up. He has no clue what he is doing.Es solo cuestión de tiempo antes de que Johnny meta la pata. No tiene ni idea de lo que está haciendo.
a. tropezar
I ran to catch the bus, but I tripped up and fell.Corrí para agarrar el autobús, pero tropecé y me caí.
