cortarse en seco

cortarse en seco(
kohr
-
tahr
-
seh
 
ehn
 
seh
-
koh
)
A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Se dio cuenta del problema.)
pronominal verb phrase
a. to cut oneself short
Estuve a punto de decir una estupidez, pero por suerte me di cuenta y me corté en seco.I was about to say something stupid, but I fortunately realized and cut myself short.
cortar en seco
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.).
transitive verb phrase
a. to cut short
Eva empezó a contarnos otra vez sus vacaciones, pero Juan la cortó en seco. "¿Por qué no nos cuentas algo nuevo?" le dijo.Eva started telling us about her vacation again, but Juan cut her short. "Why don't you tell us something new?", he said to her.
b. to cut off sharply
Cuando empezó a disculparse por llegar tarde, su jefe lo cortó en seco.When he started apologizing for being late, his boss cut him off sharply.
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