asaltar

to rob

asaltar(ah-sahl-tahr)

transitive verb

1. (to steal from)

a. to rob (a bank, store or person)

Ayer asaltaron un banco y vaciaron la caja fuerte.

Yesterday a bank was robbed and its safe emptied.

b. to hold up (a bank, store or person)

Dos hombres enmascarados nos asaltaron a punta de pistola y nos robaron el dinero destinado al pago de sueldos.

We were held up at gunpoint by two masked men who stole the money intended for wages.

c. to mug (a person)

Un ladrón intentó asaltar a la viejita, pero la policía lo atrapó en el acto.

A thief tried to mug the old woman, but the police caught him in the act.

2. (to raid)

a. to storm

Los revolucionarios armados asaltaron la fortaleza.

The armed revolutionaries stormed the fortress.

b. to attack

Los terroristas fueron atrapados antes de asaltar el edificio de oficinas.

The terrorists were caught before they could attack the office building.

3. (to tackle)

a. to accost

Parece que el reportero asaltó al grupo de refugiados a las puertas del albergue.

The reporter seemingly accosted the group of refugees outside the hostel.

4. (to besiege)

a. to bombard

Cuando Sofía llegó de la fiesta, sus papás la asaltaron con preguntas.

When Sofia came back from the party her parents bombarded her with questions.

5. (to come to mind)

a. to strike

De pronto me asaltó una gran idea para salvar el negocio.

Suddenly, I was struck by a great idea for saving the business.

b. to seize

El miedo me asaltó en medio de la noche y ya no pude dormir.

I was seized by fear in the middle of the night and I couldn't sleep as a result.

c. to assail

Cuando te toca firmar el documento, te asaltan las dudas.

When it's your turn to sign the document, you're assailed by doubts.