Figurative: B2 Spanish vocabulary

23 Spanish words about figurative at B2 level. Each entry links to the full meaning, a real example sentence, and usage notes written for English speakers.

• derrumbarseverbto crash, to collapse
• ahogarverbto stifle, to suppress
• derivar (hacia)verbto drift, to move gradually in an unintended direction
• aplastarverbto crush, to suppress
• desvanecerseverbto fade, to dissolve
• digerirverbto digest
• llamanounflame — the visible gaseous part of a fire; figuratively, the flame of passion or conflict
• engranajenoungear, mechanism
• derramarverbto shed, to spill
• deslizarseverbto slip, to slide
• empaparverbto soak, to immerse
• exprimirverbto squeeze, to extract maximum value
• agitarverbto stir, to rouse
• batallarverbto struggle, to battle
• tropezar (con)verbto stumble upon / encounter an obstacle
• rodearverbto surround, to encircle
• balancear(se)verbto sway, to oscillate
• contaminar (reputación)verbto taint, to blight
• domarverbto tame, to bring under control
• apretar (reforzar, intensificar)verbto tighten, to intensify
• remeter / guardar (doblar y colocar)verbto tuck, to push into place
• marchitarseverbto wither, to fade
• envolver(se)verbto wrap, to involve