Atajo

DailyWord · #1 December 17, 2009, 09:12 AM

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for December 16, 2009

atajo (masculine noun (el)) — shortcut. Look up atajo in the dictionary

Si vamos por el atajo llegaremos antes.
If we take the shortcut we'll get there more quickly.

Echar por el atajo
To take the easy way out

Podrías escribir mensajes más rápido, si usaras los atajos predeterminados de tu celular.
You would be able to write messages faster if you used the default shortcuts on your cell phone.

Perikles · #2 December 17, 2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DailyWord

If we take the short cut we'll get there more quickly.

shortcut

Elaina · #3 December 17, 2009, 10:00 AM

You know, and I could be wrong, I've heard the word used to also mean "bunch". Not like a bunch of flowers or anything like that but to mean a bunch of "idiots", "pigs", "mules" when referring to a group of undesirables.

As a matter of fact, that was the only way I had heard it before. Never had I heard it used as a shortcut.

Live and learn......

**AngelicaDeAlquezar** · #4 December 17, 2009, 10:48 AM

@Perikles: Spelling has been corrected.

@Elaina: That's correct. "Atajo" can be used for cattle, groups of people, sets of events...

Un atajo de ovejas = un pequeño rebaño de ovejas (small herd of sheep).
Un atajo de personas = un grupo desordenado de personas (a disordered group of persons).
Un atajo de mentiras = muchas mentiras juntas (a pack of lies).

Perikles · #5 December 17, 2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elaina

You know, and I could be wrong, I've heard the word used to also mean "bunch".

Could you be confusing it with atado, which can mean a pack (e.g. of cigarettes) as well as a bunch?

Edit: No, clearly not.

Perikles · #6 December 17, 2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

small herd of sheep

Flock !!!!!!

**AngelicaDeAlquezar** · #7 December 17, 2009, 11:00 AM

Really? Like birds?

Note has been taken.

Ok, it's official: I'm feeling hunted after.

Perikles · #8 December 17, 2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

Really? Like birds?

Note has been taken.

Ok, it's official: I'm feeling hunted after.

I beg your pardon - in fact in the specific translation, a better word would have been a drove of sheep (a smaller group than a flock, which is driven, i.e. guided by a shepherd and dog).

This might interest you - groups of animals all have different names, for example An implausibilty of gnus.