ratchet

llave de carraca, llave de trinquete

Herramienta para girar tuercas o tornillos cuyo mango puede retroceder sin hacerlos girar hacia atrás.

En inglés sencillo: A tool for turning nuts or bolts that can move back without turning the nut or bolt back.

• Pass me the ratchet, please.
• He used a ratchet to loosen the bolt.
• Does this socket fit your ratchet?

Sinónimos: ratchet wrench, socket wrench

Expresiones frecuentes: a socket ratchet, use a ratchet, ratchet handle

mecanismo de trinquete, trinquete

Dispositivo con dientes y una uña que permite moverse en un sentido e impide retroceder.

En inglés sencillo: A device with teeth and a catch that allows movement in one direction but prevents movement back.

• The ratchet stops the wheel turning backwards.
• You can hear the ratchet clicking as you tighten the strap.
• A broken tooth prevented the ratchet from locking.

Expresiones frecuentes: ratchet mechanism, ratchet wheel, a clicking ratchet

efecto trinquete, mecanismo de trinquete

Regla o proceso que permite cambiar en un sentido, pero dificulta volver atrás.

En inglés sencillo: A rule or process that allows change in one direction but makes reversing it difficult.

• The policy created an upward ratchet in costs.
• The wage agreement acted as a ratchet, preventing later reductions.
• Economists warned of a ratchet effect in public spending.

Expresiones frecuentes: ratchet effect, an upward ratchet, a spending ratchet

trinquete, uña

Pieza pequeña que encaja en una rueda dentada e impide que gire hacia atrás.

En inglés sencillo: A small part that catches a toothed wheel and stops it turning backwards.

• The ratchet caught the next tooth.
• A spring holds the ratchet against the wheel.
• The wheel slipped backwards when the ratchet broke.

Sinónimos: pawl, catch, detent

Expresiones frecuentes: ratchet pawl, release the ratchet, ratchet catch

ajustar gradualmente, aumentar gradualmente, reducir gradualmente

Aumentar, reducir o apretar algo poco a poco.

En inglés sencillo: To increase, reduce, or tighten something in small steps.

• He ratcheted the strap tight.
• The government ratcheted up pressure on the company.
• Can we ratchet spending down gradually?

Cómo se usa: ratchet something up/down (The bank ratcheted interest rates up again.); ratchet up/down something (They ratcheted down their demands.)

Sinónimos: adjust gradually, tighten

Expresiones frecuentes: ratchet something up, ratchet something down, ratchet the strap

avanzar por pasos, cambiar gradualmente

Moverse o cambiar poco a poco, a menudo con un mecanismo que impide retroceder.

En inglés sencillo: To move or change in small steps, often with a mechanism that prevents movement back.

• The handle ratchets into position.
• Tensions ratcheted up after the announcement.
• The seat ratchets forward but cannot slide back freely.

Cómo se usa: ratchet up/down (Prices ratcheted up throughout the summer.)

Sinónimos: shift, change gradually

Expresiones frecuentes: ratchet up, ratchet down, ratchet into place