seize up

irrigidirsi, contrarsi

Diventare rigidi o contratti e difficili da muovere, detto di muscoli o articolazioni.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Come si usa: seize up with something (My fingers seized up with the cold.)

Sinonimi: stiffen, tighten up

Contrari: loosen up

Espressioni comuni: muscles seize up, seize up painfully

grippare, bloccarsi

Bloccarsi improvvisamente le parti di un motore o di una macchina, impedendone il funzionamento.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Sinonimi: seize, jam, lock up

Espressioni comuni: engines seize up, seize up suddenly

bloccarsi, paralizzarsi

Smettere di funzionare, spesso a causa di un problema o di un ostacolo.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Sinonimi: stop, freeze, grind to a halt

Espressioni comuni: seize up completely, markets seize up