apretar

to press

to squeeze

apretar(ah-preh-tahr)

transitive verb

1. (to apply pressure)

a. to press

Aprieta cualquier tecla para continuar.

Press any key to continue.

b. to pull

Agarró una pistola y apretó el gatillo.

He took a gun and pulled the trigger.

c. to squeeze

Para disparar la pistola, tienes que quitar el seguro y apretar el gatillo.

To shoot the gun, you have to release the lock and squeeze the trigger.

d. to step on (accelerator)

Arranca el carro y aprieta el pedal.

Start the car and step on the pedal.

2. (to compress)

a. to squeeze

Aprieta el limón para sacarle todo el zumo.

Squeeze the lemon to get all the juice out.

b. to clutch

Mi madre me apretó tan fuerte que no podía respirar.

My mother clutched me so tight that I couldn't breathe.

c. to clench (fist)

Apretó el puño tan fuerte que se clavó las uñas en la palma.

He clenched his fist so hard that his fingernails dug into his palm.

d. to grit (teeth)

Apretó los dientes de rabia al ver a su mujer engañándolo.

He gritted his teeth in wrath when he saw his wife cheating on him.

e. to crush

Agarra bien al bebé, pero no lo aprietes.

Hold your baby close, but don't crush him.

f. to grip

¡Suelta! Me estás haciendo daño apretándome el brazo así.

Let go! You're hurting me gripping my arm like that.

3. (to adjust)

a. to tighten

Usa una llave inglesa para apretar las cuatro tuercas.

Use a wrench to tighten all four nuts.

4. (to hurry)

a. to quicken

¡Aprieta el paso que ya vamos tarde!

Quicken your pace; we're already late!

5. (to pressure)

a. to put pressure on

En la actualidad, el colegio no aprieta mucho a los alumnos.

Nowadays, schools don't put too much pressure on students.

b. to push

Deja de apretarme. Nunca aceptaré la oferta.

Stop pushing me. I will never accept the offer.

6. (to squeeze together)

a. to bunch up

No queda mucho sitio en la hoja, así que tendré que apretar las palabras al escribir.

There is not much space left on the sheet, so I will have to bunch up the words when writing.

intransitive verb

7. (to increase)

a. to get worse

Cuando la lluvia apretó, empecé a correr a casa.

When the rain got worse, I started to run home.

b. to intensify

El cansancio apretaba, pero no podía irme a dormir hasta que acabara los deberes.

The fatigue intensified, but I couldn't go to sleep until I finished my homework.

8. (to crush)

a. to be too tight

Este sombrero me aprieta.

This hat is too tight for me.

b. to pinch one's feet

Esas botas me aprietan mucho.

Those boots really pinch my feet.

9. (to pressure)

a. to put on the pressure

Esta crisis está apretando a las familias más pobres.

This crisis is putting the pressure on the poorest families.

10. (to exert oneself)

a. to make an effort

Si aprietas, acabarás a tiempo.

If you make an effort, you will finish on time.

11. (to go)

(Chile)

a.

no direct translation

La tormenta se está acercando; mejor apretemos.

The storm is coming; we'd better run.

Cuando la alarma de incendios empezó a sonar, todos apretaron hacia la salida.

When the fire alarm began to sound, everybody made a dash for the exit.

apretarse

pronominal verb

12. (to squeeze together)

a. to squeeze up

Pueden comer todos a la vez si no les importa apretarse en el comedor.

You can all eat together if you don't mind squeezing up in the dining room.

b. to squish together

Si se aprietan, habrá sitio para uno más.

If you squish together, there will be room for one more.