Phrases/idioms with the word "rato"

[wafflestomp]

What are some of them? I know the textbook definition of "rato" is time, but when is it appropriate to be used over "tiempo" or "una vez"? A cada rato would mean each time? Hace muchos ratos -- many time ago? Is that the idea with it or do I have it wrong?

[wrholt]

What are some of them? I know the textbook definition of "rato" is time, but when is it appropriate to be used over "tiempo" or "una vez"? A cada rato would mean each time? Hace muchos ratos -- many time ago? Is that the idea with it or do I have it wrong?

A related question came up in a different thread a while ago, and I posted the message at http://forums.tomisimo.org/showpost.php?p=112455&postcount=41, which summarizes various ways of translating "time" into Spanish.

[Gala]

I always think of "rato" as being equivalent to "while." I may have been taught it that way, I don't remember.

un rato- awhile
a cada rato- all the while/ all the time
un buen rato: a good while, quite some time
hace (mucho) rato- (quite) awhile ago
etc.

Edit:
Just looked it up in a bilingual dictionary: rato 1. short time, while.

[chileno]

What are some of them? I know the textbook definition of "rato" is time, but when is it appropriate to be used over "tiempo" or "una vez"? A cada rato would mean each time? Hace muchos ratos -- many time ago? Is that the idea with it or do I have it wrong?

It depends of the context, and yes, you are right.
Rato = time/each time/momento.

No, you can not say "hace muchos ratos", although you can say "hace mucho rato atrás..." or "a ratos pasaba por acá"

"a ratos" = many times

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Gala and Chileno.

"A ratos" can also mean every now and then.


· Estuvo aquí un rato y luego se fue.
He was here for a moment and then left.

· Hace ya mucho rato que llegué.
I have been here for a long while.

· Espérame un rato más, ya casi llego.
Wait for me a little longer, I'm almost there.

· ¡Ese perro ladra a cada rato!
That dog barks every other time!

· Juan no sabía cómo hacer la carta y a cada rato preguntaba qué escribirle.
Juan didn't know how to do the letter, and he was asking continuously what to write on it.

· Va a pasar un largo rato antes de que sepas los resultados del examen, así que ten paciencia.
It's going to be a long while before you know the test results, so be patient.

· Llegamos hace rato pero no te habíamos visto.
We arrived a while ago, but we hadn't seen you.

· Sólo trabajas a ratos, así nunca vas a terminar el informe.
You only work now and again, you'll never finish that report like that.

· Ya me voy, pero al rato regreso.
I'm leaving now, but I'll come back later.

· Aproveché que tuve un rato libre para hornear un pastel.
I used the spare time I had to bake a cake.

· El accidente no fue grave, pero sí pasamos un mal rato.
The accident wasn't serious, but we did have a bad time.

· No me esperes, tengo para rato con este trabajo.
Don't wait for me, I'll spend a long while doing this job.

· Mi abuelo ya se recuperó de la neumonía, así que tenemos abuelo para rato.
My grandfather has already recovered from pneumonia, so we'll have him around for a long time.

· ¡Mamá, déjame jugar otro ratito!
Mom, let me play a little longer!

· Se suponía que mi amiga y yo nos vimos para platicar, pero ella se pasó todo el rato hablando por teléfono.
My friend and I were supposed to meet for chatting, but she spent the whole time talking on the phone.

· Me voy a tomar un rato para descansar.
I'm taking a little time off to rest.

[powerchisper]

En algunos casos , se usa también para indicar "muy" o "mucho".

-" Este hombre es un rato desabradable"