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"Wind down" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "relajarse", and "wind up" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "dar cuerda". Learn more about the difference between "wind down" and "wind up" below.
wind down(
wihnd
daun
)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.).
1. (colloquial) (to relax)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. pararse
It's an old-fashioned clock that winds down once a week.Es un reloj antiguo que se para una vez por semana.
a. reducirse
Sales are winding down for the end of the year.Las ventas se están reduciendo al aproximarse el fin del año.
b. ir concluyendo
It's 1 am, and the celebration is winding down.Es la 1 am y la celebración va concluyendo.
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. reducir paulatinamente
The elections are in two days, so we're winding down the campaign.Las elecciones son en dos días, así que estamos reduciendo la campaña paulatinamente.
a. bajar
Would you please wind down the window? I want to feel the breeze.¿Podrías bajar la ventana, por favor? Quiero sentir la brisa.
wind up(
wihnd
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. dar cuerda
The repairman wound up the grandfather clock to make sure it was working.El técnico le dio cuerda al reloj de péndulo para asegurarse de que funcionara.
a. concluir
The CEO was in a rush, so she wound up the conference ten minutes early.La directora general tenía prisa, así que concluyó la conferencia diez minutos antes.
b. cerrar
We wound up the convention with a speech from the event organizers.Cerramos la convención con un discurso de los organizadores del evento.
3. (colloquial) (to annoy) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
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.).
4. (to end up)
a. terminar
After that last fight, Danny and Nicolas wound up not talking to each other.Después de esa última pelea, Danny y Nicolás terminaron no hablándose.
b. acabar
After months of debating, Tatiana wound up going to her first-choice college.Después de meses de pensar, Tatiana acabó asistiendo a su primera opción de universidad.
a. concluir
The emcee wound up by thanking everybody in attendance for coming.El presentador concluyó agradaciendoles a todos los presentes por venir.
6. (commerce)
a. liquidar
If the company loses any more money this year, we will have no choice but to wind it up.Si la empresa pierde más dinero este año, no tendremos otra opción que liquidarlo.
