desligar

to untie

desligar(dehs-lee-gahr)

transitive verb

1. (to unfasten)

a. to untie

Puedo atar y desligar los cordones con una sola mano.

I can tie and untie my shoelaces one-handed.

b. to undo

El marinero se subió al bote y desligó el nudo de la soga.

The sailor jumped on to the boat and undid the knot in the rope.

2. (to detach; often used with "de")

a. to separate

El pueblo logró desligar a la Iglesia del gobierno.

The people managed to separate the Church from the government.

3. (to absolve; often used with "de")

a. to free

Es una actitud que nos desliga de la responsabilidad.

It's an attitude that frees us from responsibility.

b. to let off

Desligué a mi hijo de sus tareas para que pudiera salir a jugar con sus amigos.

I let my son off his chores so that he could go out and play with his friends.

desligarse

pronominal verb

4. (to become unfastened)

a. to come undone

El nudo se desligó y el perro se escapó.

The knot came undone and the dog ran away.

5. (to become separated; often used with "de")

a. to separate

Los centristas se desligaron de los socialistas y fundaron su propio movimiento.

The centrists separated from the socialists and formed their own movement.

6. (to set oneself apart; often used with "de")

a. to distance oneself

López se desligó del partido, aduciendo que no tenía nada que ver con el escándalo de corrupción.

Lopez distanced himself from the party, claiming that he had nothing to do with the corruption scandal.

b. to cut oneself off

Me desligué de mi hermano para no quedar involucrado en sus negocios turbios.

I cut myself off from my brother to avoid being involved in his shady business.

7. (to absolve oneself; used with "de")

a. to get out of

Mañana no puedo ir. Tengo un compromiso del que no me puedo desligar.

I can't come tomorrow. I have an engagement that I can't get out of.