Example: No debes poner trabas a mis planes para salir hoy.
Definition
"Poner trabas" means to create obstacles or difficulties that prevent or delay someone from achieving a goal or completing an action. It often refers to deliberately hindering or complicating plans, as in preventing someone's progress or success.
Translations
to put obstacles in the way
obstakels opwerpen
posar traves
mettre des bâtons dans les roues
Steine in den Weg legen
Etymology
The phrase "poner trabas" comes from the Spanish verb "poner" meaning 'to put' and the noun "trabas" meaning 'obstacles' or 'hindrances.' The word "traba" originally referred to a fetter or shackle used to block movement, metaphorically extending to any barrier or difficulty. Did you know? This expression vividly illustrates the act of 'putting shackles' to stop progress.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Poner trabas" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (C1) - parte 1", containing 120 commonly used expressions.
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to put obstacles in the way