Spanish Conversation · Level 138
44 words
Spanish word
encañonar
Pronunciation
IPA/eŋkaɲoˈnaɾ/
Meaning
- verbpoint a gun at
Example
El ladrón me encañonó con una pistola.
The thief pointed a pistol at me.
More examples
No te dejes encañonar, llama a la policía.
Don't let yourself be held at gunpoint, call the police.
Core concept
Muzzle of a pistol directed at someone.
Common phrases
dejarse encañonar
let oneself be held at gunpoint
encañonar a la gente
point a gun at people
Similar words
amenazar: Communicates a threat of harm through speech or deliberate acts.
intimidar: Creates fear in someone by hostile or intimidating conduct.
apuntar: Points the tip of a weapon toward a person or thing.
Definition in Spanish
Dirigir el cañón de un arma hacia alguien para amenazarle o con la posibilidad de disparar.
Word origin
Built from en- + cañón 'barrel' (cañón from Latin canna 'tube'), literally 'to put the barrel toward', which explains the meaning 'point a gun at someone'.
Usage tips
- The verb commonly occurs as encañonar a alguien con + weapon (for example, encañonó a la víctima con una pistola), so expect the pattern 'encañonar a [person] con [arma]'.
Other meanings
- aim atverb
Opposites
- desarmardisarmverb
Related words
- encañonadoheld at gunpointadjective
- encañonamientopointing a gun at someonenoun