A trompicones

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Hacer algo a trompicones es hacer algo por tramos, ahora hago una parte, dentro de un rato, otra parte etc...
English?

[hermit]

In English perhaps to do something "little by little", or "bit by bit"...

[JPablo]

Yes, but it is less "controlled" I'd say, salió del bar dando trompicones = he came stumbling o staggering o lurching out of the bar;

a trompicones is more like in fits and starts.

Like an old car that is hard to get going..., or a little kid who memorized a poem and now says it, forgets, says a whole section...

[chileno]

I agree with hermit though.

[JPablo]

Yes, (as I said) but it somehow misses the "difficulty" of the Spanish, or at least the helter-skelter, or even chaotic sense the Spanish expression conveys.
DRAE gives,trompicón. (De trompico).
1. m. Tropezón o paso tambaleante de una persona.
2. m. Tumbo o vaivén de un carruaje.
3. m. Porrazo, golpe fuerte.
a trompicones.
1. loc. adv. A tropezones, a empujones, a golpes.
2. loc. adv. Con discontinuidad, con dificultades.
Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

Moliner gives,
trompicón m. Tropezón.
A trompicones. Con discontinuidad. Con dificultades.

[chileno]

Yes, (as I said) but it somehow misses the "difficulty" of the Spanish, or at least the helter-skelter, or even chaotic sense the Spanish expression conveys.
DRAE gives,trompicón. (De trompico).
1. m. Tropezón o paso tambaleante de una persona.
2. m. Tumbo o vaivén de un carruaje.
3. m. Porrazo, golpe fuerte.
a trompicones.
1. loc. adv. A tropezones, a empujones, a golpes.
2. loc. adv. Con discontinuidad, con dificultades.
Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

Moliner gives,
trompicón m. Tropezón.
A trompicones. Con discontinuidad. Con dificultades.

But that is another meaning the word has. That's what I was agreeing with hermit. :)

[JPablo]

Okay, I agree with that, but the "little by little" and or "bit by bit" is something (at least the way I get it in English) done with a lack of continuity... that could be by the way the person does it, i.e., laziness, not being on a hurry or whatever reason. The Spanish expression includes the connotation of being hard, or not as smoothly as one would like.

[chileno]

Okay, I agree with that, but the "little by little" and or "bit by bit" is something (at least the way I get it in English) done with a lack of continuity... that could be by the way the person does it, i.e., laziness, not being on a hurry or whatever reason. The Spanish expression includes the connotation of being hard, or not as smoothly as one would like.

Got it. :)