Meaning of apuca | Babel Free

Definitions

1. to grab, grip, grasp, seize
   transitive
2. to start, endeavour, begin to do something
   informal, reflexive
3. to get to do something
   catenative
4. to live to see something, either by living long enough or by being born early enough
   transitive
5. to have a tradition be passed down
   transitive, uncommon
6. to catch someone unready
   informal, transitive
7. to come upon somebody
   informal, transitive
8. to take it upon oneself
   obsolete, reflexive
9. to usurp, take for oneself
   obsolete, transitive

Equivalents

Examples

“a se apuca de treabă”

to get to work

“Copilul nu l-a apucat pe străbunicul său.”

The child didn’t get to meet his great-grandfather.

“Nichita Stănescu nu a apucat Revoluția, spre deosebire de Adrian Păunescu[…]”

Nichita Stănescu did not live to see the Revolution, unlike Adrian Păunescu […]

“a îl apuca seara”

to not be done by nightfall

“Pe constructori o să îi apuce iarna și tot nu o să fie gata.”

Winter will come and the builders still will not be ready.

“a îl apuca plânsul”

to start crying

“a îl apuca pandaliile”

to throw a fit

“Te-a apucat să cânți? Fă liniște!”

Did you suddenly think to start singing? Shut up!

“Ce l-a apucat să devină sentimental din pricina unui cuplu fericit?”

What’s come to him, for him to get sentimental because of a happy couple?

CEFR level