B2 Idiom 비격식체

A trancas y barrancas

By hook or by crook

With great difficulty and overcoming many obstacles.

🌍

문화적 배경

In Spain, this phrase is very common in political journalism to describe the difficult passage of laws in a fragmented parliament. While understood, Mexicans might also use 'a puros tropezones' to describe a similar stumbling progress. Argentines often use 'a los ponchazos' as a local equivalent, referring to the use of a poncho in a messy fight. The phrase is widely recognized due to the influence of Spanish literature and media, though local variants exist.

💡

Use it for storytelling

This phrase adds a lot of color to anecdotes. Instead of saying 'it was hard,' use this to make your story more vivid.

⚠️

Always plural

Never say 'a tranca y barranca'. It's a fixed idiom and must always be plural.

With great difficulty and overcoming many obstacles.

💡

Use it for storytelling

This phrase adds a lot of color to anecdotes. Instead of saying 'it was hard,' use this to make your story more vivid.

⚠️

Always plural

Never say 'a tranca y barranca'. It's a fixed idiom and must always be plural.

🎯

Pair with 'sacar adelante'

The verb 'sacar adelante' (to get something through/forward) is the most natural partner for this phrase.

셀프 테스트

Completa la frase con la opción correcta.

Logramos terminar la mudanza a ______ y ______.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: trancas / barrancas

La expresión fija es 'a trancas y barrancas'.

Selecciona el significado más cercano a la frase subrayada.

Aprobó el examen *a trancas y barrancas*.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Aprobó con mucha dificultad y problemas.

La frase indica que el éxito se logró pero con gran esfuerzo y obstáculos.

Match the situation with the most appropriate use of the phrase.

Situación: Un equipo de fútbol gana un partido después de que dos jugadores fueran expulsados y el campo estuviera lleno de barro.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Ganaron a trancas y barrancas.

The multiple obstacles (expulsions, mud) make this the perfect context for the idiom.

Completa el diálogo.

—¿Cómo va tu nuevo negocio? —Bueno, vamos tirando a ______ y ______.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: trancas / barrancas

In the context of a struggling business, 'a trancas y barrancas' is the most natural fit.

🎉 점수: /4

시각 학습 자료

연습 문제 은행

4 연습 문제
Completa la frase con la opción correcta. Fill Blank B1

Logramos terminar la mudanza a ______ y ______.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: trancas / barrancas

La expresión fija es 'a trancas y barrancas'.

Selecciona el significado más cercano a la frase subrayada. Choose B2

Aprobó el examen *a trancas y barrancas*.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Aprobó con mucha dificultad y problemas.

La frase indica que el éxito se logró pero con gran esfuerzo y obstáculos.

Match the situation with the most appropriate use of the phrase. situation_matching B2

Situación: Un equipo de fútbol gana un partido después de que dos jugadores fueran expulsados y el campo estuviera lleno de barro.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Ganaron a trancas y barrancas.

The multiple obstacles (expulsions, mud) make this the perfect context for the idiom.

Completa el diálogo. dialogue_completion B1

—¿Cómo va tu nuevo negocio? —Bueno, vamos tirando a ______ y ______.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: trancas / barrancas

In the context of a struggling business, 'a trancas y barrancas' is the most natural fit.

🎉 점수: /4

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

Yes, it's neutral/informal. You can use it with friends or colleagues, but maybe not in a very formal speech to a CEO.

Usually, it describes actions or processes, but you can say a relationship is going 'a trancas y barrancas'.

'A duras penas' is more like 'hardly' or 'barely'. 'A trancas y barrancas' emphasizes the obstacles and the messy process.

It implies difficulty and lack of smoothness, but the result is usually positive (you finished it!).

Yes, it is understood everywhere, though some countries have their own local versions like 'a los ponchazos'.

No, the preposition must be 'a'.

It has old roots, but it is still very much alive in modern Spanish, especially in news and daily conversation.

It's a strong trill. Place your tongue behind your upper teeth and let it vibrate with the air.

Literally, yes, but it's almost always used figuratively today.

Use 'con grandes dificultades' or 'a pesar de los numerosos obstáculos'.

관련 표현

🔄

A duras penas

synonym

With great difficulty / barely.

🔗

Contra viento y marea

similar

Against all odds.

🔗

A trompicones

similar

In fits and starts / stumbling.

🔗

Como Pedro por su casa

contrast

Like he owns the place / with total ease.

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