atinar

to hit the mark

verb ah-tee-NAHR Rare

Also means

to manage to (do something)

Usage Note

Atinar often appears in the construction atinar a + infinitive — 'to manage to do something, barely' (no atinó a responder, 'he could not manage to answer'). The core sense is hitting or finding the right target, answer, or moment. It is more common in Latin America than in Spain, where acertar is preferred for 'to get it right'.

Examples

"No atinó a decir ni una palabra."

Natural Translation

He couldn't manage to say a single word.

Literal Translation

Not he-managed to say not one word.

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