ahuyentar

to frighten off

ahuyentar(ow-yehn-tahr)

transitive verb

1. (to scare off)

a. to frighten off

Los perros ahuyentaron a los coyotes que se habían acercado a la granja.

The dogs frightened off the coyotes that had approached the farm.

El sonido de las llaves en la puerta ahuyentó a los ladrones.

The jangling of the keys in the door frightened the thieves off.

b. to frighten away

El ladrido del perro guardián de la puerta ahuyentó al encapuchado.

The watchdog's barking at the door frightened the hooded man away.

c. to scare away

Ahuyenté a las zarigüeyas, pero siguen volviendo.

I scared the possums away, but they keep coming back.

2. (to get rid of)

a. to dispel

Gracias a la psicóloga, logré ahuyentar aquel horrible episodio de mi mente.

Thanks to my psychologist, I was able to dispel that horrible incident from my mind.

b. to banish

Decidí preguntarle a Mario si me había sido infiel para ahuyentar las dudas.

I decided to ask Mario if he had cheated on me to banish my doubts.

3. (to fend off)

a. to keep at arm's length

Prefiero ahuyentar a los chicos que son demasiado melosos.

I prefer to keep boys who are too sappy at arm's length.

ahuyentarse

pronominal verb

4. (to leave)

a. to run away

Escuché unos ruidos raros en el callejón y decidí ahuyentarme.

I heard some strange noises in the alley and I decided to run away.

b. to stay away

Lucía se ahuyentó del lugar de los hechos para no ser considerada sospechosa.

Lucia stayed away from the crime scene so as not to be considered a suspect.