lidiar con
/lidjaɾ kon/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'grapple with' is translated into Spanish as lidiar con.
lidiar con is used when you are struggling to deal with a difficult problem or a challenging situation. While it often refers to abstract problems, it is also frequently used to describe the act of dealing with a difficult or annoying person.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb lidiar means to deal with, to cope or to handle a situation or person.
Which one should you use?
If the sense of 'grappling' implies a more direct confrontation with a problem or challenge, you may use the alternative phrase enfrentarse a.
How does it change in a sentence?
lidiar con is a transitive verb construction that requires the preposition con to connect the verb to the object of the struggle.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, lidiar is the specific term used for the professional act of bullfighting, where a matador 'grapples' with a bull.
- The word lidiar is a linguistic sibling to the English word 'litigate'. Both trace their roots back to the Latin word lītigāre, which means to dispute or quarrel.
- In some contexts, lidiar can be used to describe the act of handling livestock or stubborn animals, reflecting its roots in rural work.
Examples in context
- Los líderes empresariales deben lidiar con los desafíos económicos actualesBusiness leaders must grapple with current economic challenges
- Es importante enfrentarse a los problemas ambientales que afectan nuestro planetaIt is important to grapple with the environmental issues that affect our planet
- El gobierno está afrontando los desafíos de la crisis económicaThe government is grappling with the challenges of the economic crisis
- Últimamente ando peleando con mi trabajo y mis estudiosLately, I've been grappling with my job and studies
- Tengo problemas para entender esta asignaturaI'm having problems grappling with this subject
- El equipo directivo está lidiando con los desafíos de la pandemiaThe management team is grappling with the challenges of the pandemic
- He estado peleando con mi miedo a hablar en públicoI've been grappling with my fear of public speaking
- No sé cómo afrontar esta situación tan complicadaI don't know how to grapple with this complicated situation
- Tiene que lidiar con la burocracia.He has to grapple with the bureaucracy.
- Tengo que lidiar con este problema técnico.I have to deal with this technical problem.
- Ella tiene que lidiar con mucha presión en el trabajo.She has to deal with a lot of pressure at work.
- Él no sabe cómo lidiar con la situación actual.He does not know how to deal with the current situation.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are talking about their heavy workloads.
- María¿Cómo vas con tu nuevo proyecto, Mateo?How are you doing with your new project, Mateo?
- MateoEs difícil, tengo que lidiar con muchos cambios.It is difficult, I have to deal with many changes.
- MaríaTe entiendo, yo también lidio con cosas complicadas.I understand you, I also deal with complicated things.
- MateoEs verdad, el trabajo de ambos es muy intenso.It's true, both of our jobs are very intense.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries con, lidiar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
