seize up

agarrotarse, entumecerse

Ponerse rígidos o tensos los músculos o las articulaciones, haciendo difícil el movimiento.

En inglés sencillo: To become stiff or tight and difficult to move.

• My back has seized up.
• Her fingers seized up in the cold.
• My legs seize up if I sit still too long.

Cómo se usa: seize up with something (My fingers seized up with the cold.)

Sinónimos: stiffen, tighten up

Antónimos: loosen up

Expresiones frecuentes: muscles seize up, seize up painfully

griparse, agarrotarse

Quedarse atascadas de repente las piezas de un motor o una máquina, impidiendo que funcione.

En inglés sencillo: If an engine or machine does this, its parts suddenly become stuck and it cannot run.

• The engine seized up yesterday.
• Without oil, this motor will seize up.
• The mechanic said the pump had seized up completely.

Sinónimos: seize, jam, lock up

Expresiones frecuentes: engines seize up, seize up suddenly

paralizarse, bloquearse

Dejar de funcionar o avanzar, a menudo por un problema o un obstáculo.

En inglés sencillo: To stop working or operating, often because of a problem or blockage.

• The payment system seized up.
• Trade seized up when the border closed.
• Without fresh funding, the whole operation could seize up.

Sinónimos: stop, freeze, grind to a halt

Expresiones frecuentes: seize up completely, markets seize up