a trancas y barrancas
es
en
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Translating...
with great difficulty, by fits and starts
/a ˈtɾankas i baˈrankas/
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With repeated difficulty, but still making progress.
Examples
La mudanza avanzó a trancas y barrancas.
The move went forward with great difficulty.
Aprendió el oficio a trancas y barrancas.
He learned the trade the hard way.
Terminamos la obra a trancas y barrancas.
We finished the building work with great difficulty.
Consiguieron abrir el refugio a trancas y barrancas.
They managed to open the shelter despite many obstacles.
El pueblo salió de la crisis a trancas y barrancas.
The town emerged from the crisis by fits and starts.
Meanings
Examples
Terminamos la obra a trancas y barrancas.
We finished the building work with great difficulty.
El pueblo salió de la crisis a trancas y barrancas.
The town emerged from the crisis by fits and starts.
Aprendió el oficio a trancas y barrancas.
He learned the trade the hard way.
La mudanza avanzó a trancas y barrancas.
The move went forward with great difficulty.
Consiguieron abrir el refugio a trancas y barrancas.
They managed to open the shelter despite many obstacles.
Etymology
Trancas are heavy bars and barrancas are steep banks; the paired words evoke obstacles on a route.
FAQ
What does a trancas y barrancas mean?
With many obstacles and considerable difficulty.
Often yes, though progress is difficult and uneven.
Can it describe learning?
Yes, someone can learn a trade through repeated setbacks.
No, it is a colloquial expression.
What do its two nouns suggest?
Bars and steep banks that obstruct a route.
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