echar el buitre: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  SpainLatin Americacolloquialpejorative
  • To act like a vulture: to prey opportunistically on someone else's misfortune or vulnerability, often for personal, romantic, or financial gain.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Después del accidente, algunos vecinos echaron el buitre para conseguir donaciones para ellos mismos.

    After the accident, some neighbors acted like vultures to get donations for themselves.

  • No me gusta cuando la gente echa el buitre en situaciones de crisis para obtener ventaja personal.

    I don't like it when people prey opportunistically in crisis situations to gain personal advantage.

  • Los medios de comunicación a veces echan el buitre ante las desgracias para aumentar su audiencia.

    Sometimes the media act like vultures in misfortunes to increase their audience.

• 2.

  SpainLatin Americacolloquialpejorative
  • To loiter around or repeatedly approach someone in a predatory or aggressive way with sexual or romantic intentions; to make persistent advances toward an easy target.

  Examples

  Beta

  • En la fiesta, varios chicos echaron el buitre alrededor de Claudia porque sabían que estaba soltera.

    At the party, several guys loitered around Claudia making persistent advances because they knew she was single.

  • No soporto que me echen el buitre cuando sólo quiero estar tranquila en un bar.

    I can't stand being hit on aggressively when I just want to be calm in a bar.

  • Los vendedores ambulantes echaban el buitre a los turistas para venderles souvenirs caros.

    The street vendors loitered around tourists aggressively to sell them expensive souvenirs.