pillar

to catch

pillar(pee-yahr)

transitive verb

1. (to grab)

a. to catch

Verónica pilló la pelota que le tiró Steven.

Veronica caught the ball Steven threw her.

b. to get

Pillamos algo de comer de la cocina y salimos a comer al aire libre.

We got some food from the kitchen and went outside to eat.

2. (to capture)

a. to catch

Un policía pilló al carterista.

A police officer caught the pickpocket.

3. (to surprise)

a. to catch

Lo pillamos todavía en piyama cuando llegamos a su casa.

We caught him in his pajamas when we got to his house.

4. (to come down with)

a. to catch

Hacía tanto frío que por poco pillo una pulmonía.

It was so cold that I almost caught pneumonia.

b. to get

Pillé una gripe en París, pero me arrastré a la Torre Eiffel de todos modos.

I got the flu in Paris, but I dragged myself to the Eiffel Tower anyway.

5. (to knock down)

a. to hit

La parrilla del carro se dañó cuando pillé un ciervo.

The car grill was damaged when I hit a deer.

b. to run over

Huele como si alguien hubiera pillado una mofeta.

It smells like someone ran over a skunk.

6.

(colloquial)

(to understand)

a. to get

¿Me lo puedes volver a explicar? No lo pillo.

Can you try explaining it to me again? I don't get it.

7. (to watch carefully)

(Colombia)

(Panama)

a. to look

Oye, Carlos, pilla la nueva motocicleta de mi vecino.

Hey, Carlos, look at my neighbor's new motorcycle.

intransitive verb

8. (to be located)

(Spain)

a.

no direct translation

Yo iré a la imprenta. Me pilla de camino a casa.

I'll go to the printer. It's on my way home.

Ese restaurante me pilla lejos.

That restaurant is too far for me.

9. (to watch carefully)

(Colombia)

(Panama)

a. to look

Pilla. El gato intenta abrir la puerta del refrigerador.

Look. The cat is trying to open the fridge door.

pillarse

pronominal verb

10. (to pinch)

a. to catch

Solo tiene nueve dedos porque se pilló uno en la picadora de carne.

He only has nine fingers, because he caught one in the meat grinder.

pillar

transitive verb

1. (coger, tomar, atrapar)

a. to catch

2. (colloquial)

a.

pillar una pulmonía/un taxito catch pneumonia/a taxi

3. (atropellar)

a. to knock down

4. (colloquial)

a. to get

no lo pilloI don't get it

intransitive verb

5. (hallarse)

(Spain)

a.

me pilla lejosit's out of the way for me

me pilla de caminoit's on my way

pronominal verb

6. (general)

a.

pillarse los dedosto catch one's fingers

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

pillar

transitive verb

1 (atrapar) to catch

nunca lo pillo en casa I can never catch him at home; lo pilló la policía the police caught o nabbed (familiar) him; el perro le pilló el pantalón the dog caught his trouser leg; me pilló el dedo con la puerta he got my finger caught in the door; ¡como te pille ...! if I get hold of you ...!

2 (tomar, coger) to catch; get

pillar el autobús to catch o get the bus; píllame un asiento al lado tuyo grab me a seat beside you (familiar)

3 (sorprender) to catch

lo pillé fumando I caught him smoking

me pilló en pijama

¡te he pillado! caught o got you!

te he pillado la mentira

4 (alcanzar) to catch up with

salí corriendo y la pillé a medio camino I ran out and caught up with her on the way

5 (atropellar) to hit; run over

la pilló una moto she was hit by a motorbike

6 [+resfriado, pulmonía] to catch; get

pillar una borrachera to get drunk

7 [+puesto] to get; land

8 [+broma, significado] to get; catch on to

intransitive verb

(España)

me pilla lejos it's too far for me; me pilla muy cerca it's handy o near for me; me pilla de camino it's on my way

pronominal verb

pillarse to catch

se pilló el dedo con la puerta he caught his finger in the door