agachar

to lower

agachar(ah-gah-chahr)

transitive verb

1. (to move down)

a. to lower

Agacha la cabeza para no dar un golpe al entrar por esa puerta.

Lower your head so you don't knock it when you go through that door.

b. to bend

Cristian agachó la cabeza avergonzado cuando la maestra le regañó.

Cristian bent his head in shame when the teacher scolded him.

c. to bow

Magdalena agachó la cabeza en deferencia a la líder del equipo.

Magdalena bowed her head in deference to the team leader.

d. to hang

Óscar agachó la cabeza avergonzado.

Oscar hung his head in shame.

e. to duck

Nicole agachó la cabeza para que no le pegara la pelota.

Nicole ducked her head so the ball wouldn't hit her.

agacharse

pronominal verb

2. (to lower oneself)

a. to crouch down

Los soldados se agacharon detrás de los arbustos.

The soldiers crouched down behind the bushes.

b. to bend down

Me agaché para atarme los cordones del zapato.

I bent down to tie my shoelaces.

c. to duck

Mi primo le tiró un plato de crema batida a mi hermana, pero ella se agachó y le dio a mi abuela.

My cousin threw a plate of whipped cream at my sister, but she ducked and it hit my grandma.

d. to squat

El niñito se agachó para ver el bicho de cerca.

The little boy squatted to get a close look at the bug.

3.

(figurative)

(to give in)

a. to submit

Con la administración anterior, te tenías que agachar o sufrir regaños continuos.

In the previous administration, you had to submit, or be constantly reprimanded.