petrificar

to petrify

petrificar

transitive verb

1. (to convert into stone)

a. to petrify

La bruja le había echado un maleficio al príncipe y lo había petrificado. Lo que veíamos no era una estatua del príncipe, sino el príncipe mismo.

The witch had cast a spell on the prince and petrified him. We weren't looking at a statue of the prince, but at the prince himself.

2.

(figurative)

(to paralyze)

a. to petrify

Iba a dar mi opinión, pero la mirada de mi jefe me petrificó. El mensaje era claro: "¿A quién le importa lo que piense un simple chupatintas?"

I was going to give my opinion, but the look on my boss' face petrified me. The message was clear: "Who cares what a mere pen-pusher thinks?"

petrificarse

pronominal verb

3. (to convert into stone)

a. to become petrified

Los fósiles son seres vivos que se petrificaron.

Fossils are living beings that became petrified.

4.

(figurative)

(to be paralyzed)

a. to become petrified

La serpiente avanzaba hacia el explorador a gran velocidad, y él se petrificó.

The snake was moving toward the explorer at great speed, and he became petrified.

b. to be petrified

Cuando vi que había tanta gente en el salón de actos esperando a que yo hablara, me petrifiqué y no pude articular palabra.

When I saw that there were so many people in the auditorium waiting for me to speak, I was petrified and couldn't utter a word.

c. to turn into stone

Me petrifiqué. La sorpresa y el miedo me impidieron reaccionar.

I turned into stone. Surprise and fear prevented me from reacting.