echarse a

to begin to

echarse a(eh-chahr-seh ah)

pronominal verb phrase

1. (general)

a. to begin to

Su hermana lo llamó tonto, y él se echó a llorar.

Her sister called him stupid, and he began to cry.

b. to start

Cuando les dije que nosotros ganaríamos el partido, se echaron a reír.

When I told them we would win the game, they started laughing.

c. to burst into

Cada vez que sus padres le decían que no a algo, la niña se echaba a llorar.

Every time their parents said no to something, the girl would burst into tears.