pillar el toro: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  SpainAll Spanish-speaking regionsneutralliteral
  • To be caught by the bull, in the literal sense used in bullfighting contexts.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Durante la corrida, el torero casi pillar el toro cuando el animal embistió inesperadamente.

    During the bullfight, the bullfighter almost got caught by the bull when the animal charged unexpectedly.

  • Vi cómo el novillero pillar el toro y tuvo que ser ayudado por sus compañeros.

    I saw how the novice bullfighter got caught by the bull and had to be helped by his companions.

  • Nunca imaginé que pudiera pillar el toro en una plaza tan peligrosa.

    I never imagined I could get caught by the bull in such a dangerous arena.

  • Los aficionados gritaron cuando el torero pillar el toro de frente durante la faena.

    The fans shouted when the bullfighter got caught by the bull head-on during the performance.

• 2.

  SpainLatin Americacolloquialinformal
  • To be caught unprepared or to run out of time to complete something; to be surprised by circumstances and thus fail to meet a deadline or obligation.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Me pillaron el toro con el informe y tuve que quedarme toda la noche terminándolo.

    I got caught unprepared with the report and had to stay all night finishing it.

  • ¿Por qué siempre pillas el toro y entregas los trabajos tarde en la universidad?

    Why do you always get caught out and submit your assignments late at university?

  • Si no organizas mejor tu tiempo, te va a pillar el toro con el proyecto final.

    If you don’t organize your time better, you’re going to get caught short with the final project.