palanca

lever

influence

palanca(pah-lahng-kah)

feminine noun

1. (mechanics)

a. lever

Los niños usaron una palanca para levantar el objeto pesado.

The boys used a lever to lift the heavy object.

b. crowbar

Rompieron la cerradura de la puerta con una palanca.

A crowbar was used to break the door lock.

2. (favor)

a. influence

Sugirió que su palanca con el gobierno le había significado ciertos privilegios.

He suggested that his influence with the government had given him certain privileges.

b. leverage

Luis tiene palanca para influir en las negociaciones.

Luis has leverage to influence the negotiations.

3. (influential person)

(Latin America)

a. contact

¿Tienes alguna palanca en admisiones en la universidad?

Do you have any contacts in admissions at the university?

4. (sports)

a. diving board

Ana se tiró de la palanca más alta.

Ana dove from the highest diving board.

b. springboard

En la alberca del club hay una palanca para que los niños se avienten.

At the club's pool, there's a springboard for the kids to dive from.

5. (with great height)

(El Salvador)

(Honduras)

a. tall

Marco es una palanca. Mide casi dos metros.

Marco is really tall. He's almost two meters high.

palanca

Noun

1. (barra, mando)

a. lever

2. (automotive)

a.

palanca de mandojoystick

3. (trampolín)

a. diving board

4. (colloquial)

(Latin America)

a.

tener palancato have friends in high places

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

palanca

1 (barra) lever

palanca de arranque kick-starter

palanca de cambio gear lever; gearshift; (EEUU)

palanca de freno brake lever

palanca de mando joystick

2 (influencia) pull; influence

mover palancas to pull strings; tener palanca to have pull; know people in the right places

palancas del poder levers of power

3 (And) (México) [de barca] punting pole