sujetar
transitive verb
1 (agarrar) to hold
sujeta esto un momento hold this a moment
dos policías lo sujetaban contra la pared two policemen pinned o held him against the wall; lo tuvieron que sujetar entre tres personas para que no huyera he had to be held back o restrained by three people to stop him escaping
2 (afianzar)
lo sujeté con un esparadrapo I fixed it with some sticking-plaster; sujeta bien la ropa, que no se la lleve el viento peg the clothes (up) properly so the wind doesn't blow them away
hay que sujetar bien a los niños dentro del coche children should be properly strapped in o properly secured when travelling by car
sujetar algo a
se sujeta a la pared por medio de argollas it is fixed o attached o secured to the wall through rings
sujetar algo con
sujetar algo con clavos to nail sth down
sujetar algo con grapas to staple sth; sujetar algo con tornillos to screw sth down
enrolló el mapa y lo sujetó con una goma she rolled up the map and fastened o secured it with a rubber band
sujetó las facturas con un clip she clipped the invoices together
3 (contener) [+rebelde] to subdue; conquer [+rival, animal enfurecido] to keep down
es muy rebelde y sus padres no lo pueden sujetar he's very rebellious - his parents can't control him; lograron sujetar las aspiraciones de los sindicatos they succeeded in keeping the aspirations of the unions under control
vive sin ataduras que la sujeten she has nothing to tie her down; she has no ties to bind her
mis deberes como político me sujetan aquí my duties as a politician bind me here
pronominal verb
sujetarse1 (agarrarse) [+pelo, sombrero] to hold
salió sujetándose los pantalones he came out holding his trousers up
¿tienes una goma para sujetarme el pelo? have you got an elastic band to hold my hair up?
inclinó la cabeza y se sujetó el sombrero he tilted his head and held his hat on
sujetarse a algo to hold on to sth
tuvo que sujetarse a la barandilla para no caerse he had to hold on to the handrail so as not to fall over