amarrar

Senses

1. 1.

   to tie, to fasten

   to secure something with a rope, string, or similar material

2. 2.

   to moor, to dock

   to secure a boat or ship to a fixed point

3. 3.

   to tie down, to commit

   to bind or restrict someone's freedom or options (figurative)

Examples

• "Vou amarrar o cachorro na árvore enquanto entro na loja."

  I'm going to tie the dog to the tree while I go into the store.

• "Ele amarrou o barco no cais antes de descer."

  He moored the boat at the dock before getting off.

• "Não quero me amarrar a um emprego que não me deixa viajar."

  I don't want to tie myself down to a job that doesn't let me travel.

Usage

Common regular -ar verb. Often used with prepositions: "amarrar em" (tie to/at), "amarrar com" (tie with). In colloquial speech, "amarrar a cara" means to frown or look sullen. The figurative sense of commitment or restriction is very common in Brazilian Portuguese.