pin down

pin down
(to make (someone) give a definite answer, statement, opinion or promise: I can't pin him down to a definite date for his arrival.) abligar a uno a que concrete; hacer que se comprometa
pin down (In a fight)
expr.
• inmobilizar v.
v + o + adv, v + adv + o
1) (prevent from moving)

they pinned him down — (se echaron sobre él y) lo inmovilizaron

2)
a) (define) \<\<cause/identity\>\> definir, precisar

something's wrong with me, but I can't pin it down — algo tengo, pero no sabría decir exactamente qué

b) (force to state position)

it's useless trying to pin politicians down — es inútil intentar que los políticos se definan

I managed to pin him down to a definite date — conseguí que se comprometiera para una fecha concreta

VT + ADV
1) (=fasten or hold down) sujetar

he pinned me down by my wrists — me sujetó por las muñecas

I was pinned down by a fallen tree — quedé atrapado bajo un árbol caído

2) (fig)
a) (=oblige to be specific)

to pin sb down — hacer que algn concrete

she is really hard to pin down — es difícil hacerla concretar

the minister refused to be pinned down on the timing of the reforms — el ministro no quiso comprometerse a dar fechas específicas para las reformas

you can't pin him down to a date — es imposible lograr que nos dé una fecha concreta

b) (=identify) [+ problem] identificar; [+ concept] precisar, definir; [+ reason] dar con; [+ date] precisar

the idea is rather hard to pin down — es un concepto difícil de precisar or definir

there's something wrong but I can't pin it down — algo va mal pero no sé exactamente qué

3) (Mil) [+ troops] atrapar

our men were pinned down by artillery fire — nuestros hombres se vieron atrapados por fuego de artillería

* * *
v + o + adv, v + adv + o
1) (prevent from moving)

they pinned him down — (se echaron sobre él y) lo inmovilizaron

2)
a) (define) \<\<cause/identity\>\> definir, precisar

something's wrong with me, but I can't pin it down — algo tengo, pero no sabría decir exactamente qué

b) (force to state position)

it's useless trying to pin politicians down — es inútil intentar que los políticos se definan

I managed to pin him down to a definite date — conseguí que se comprometiera para una fecha concreta


English-spanish dictionary. 2013.

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