Atajo

[DailyWord]

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]

Originally Posted by DailyWord

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

shortcut

[Elaina]

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]

@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]

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]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

small herd of sheep

Flock !!!!!!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Really? Like birds?

Note has been taken.



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

[Perikles]

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.

[Elaina]

Gracias Angelica.

Perikles......leave her alone

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Elaina

Perikles......leave her alone

I'm just trying to be helpful - I'm sure she'll get her revenge.

[Elaina]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I'm just trying to be helpful - I'm sure she'll get her revenge.

When you least expect it.......

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

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.

iInteresting!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Elaina:


@Perikles: Spanish feels so limited when faced to "an obstinacy of buffaloes" or "a lamentation of swans".


Bueno... ahora a aprenderse el atajo de términos nuevos.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@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).

Con hache mujer. ¿o es ache?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

También.

http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltCons...S=3&LEMA=atajo

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

También.

http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltCons...S=3&LEMA=atajo

Lo ví.

Nunca lo había visto escrito significando un atado... Nunca es tarde para aprender.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Elaina

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......

Yes, we say atajo or hatajo (usually with "h") when we talk about a group of indesirables, too:

Un hatajo de indeseables vagaba por la calle.
Un hatajo de gandules es lo que hay.

Originally Posted by Perikles

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.

Useful link. Thanks.