settle down

acomodarse

tranquilizarse

settle down(seh-duhl daun)

intransitive verb phrase

1. (to get comfortable)

a. acomodarse

The old lady settled down comfortably on a sofa and began to tell her long story.

La anciana se acomodó en un sofá y se puso a relatar su larga historia.

b. ponerse cómodo

We decided to settle down and talk on the grass for a while.

Decidimos ponernos cómodos y hablar en el pasto durante un rato.

c. instalarse

We all settled down in front of the TV to watch a movie.

Nos instalamos todos delante de la tele para ver una película.

d. prepararse (for a wait)

Seeing that the line at the theater was two blocks long, we settled down for a long wait.

Al ver que la cola en el teatro era de dos cuadras, nos preparamos para una larga espera.

2. (to become relaxed)

a. tranquilizarse

Okay, okay, settle down! I just wanted to see your toy. I'm not going to keep it!

¡Ya! ¡Ya! ¡Tranquilízate! Solo quería ver tu juguete. ¡No me lo voy quedar!

b. calmarse

If you would settle down for a second, I'll explain what's going on.

Si te calmas de una vez, te explico lo que está pasando.

3. (to lead a stable life)

a. sentar la cabeza

After over 20 years on the road playing gigs, I decided to settle down in a little town in the mountains.

Tras más de 20 años de gira tocando, decidí sentar la cabeza en un pueblito en las montañas.

b. sentar cabeza

Don Juan will never settle down and leave his womanizing ways.

Don Juan nunca sentará cabeza ni abandonará sus hábitos de mujeriego.

c. echar raíces (in a place)

I've traveled the world and seen many things, but now I'm going to settle down in my hometown.

Viajé por el mundo y vi muchas cosas, pero ahora voy a echar raíces en mi pueblo natal.

d. establecerse (in a place)

We traveled to Spain on vacation, and then we decided to come back and settle down.

Viajamos a España de vacaciones y luego decidimos volver para establecernos allí.

4. (to devote oneself; used with "to")

a. ponerse a

You should settle down to write your dissertation or you won't finish it on time.

Deberías ponerte a escribir tu tesis o no la terminarás a tiempo.

transitive verb phrase

5. (to relax)

a. tranquilizar

We tried to settle her down and tell her it was only a joke.

Tratamos de tranquilizarla y decirle que era solo una broma.

b. calmar

The doctors couldn't settle the patient down, so they had to give him a sedative.

Los médicos no podían calmar al paciente, así que tuvieron que darle un sedante.

6. (to make comfortable)

a. acomodar

I settled my grandfather down in his wheelchair and brought him his crossword.

Acomodé a mi abuelo en su silla de ruedas y le traje el crucigrama.