picador

[KatyBr]

My friend has a close co-worker who she insists thinks she's a picador who uses her words like banderillas. I get frantic emails from her, she is too weak to confront, she can just smile and ask for another, please....

pic·a·dor (pk-dôr, pkä-dôr)
n. pl. pic·a·dors or pic·a·do·res (pk-dôrs, pkä-drs)
A horseman in a bullfight who lances the bull's neck muscles so that it will tend to keep its head low for the later stages of the fight.


[Spanish, from picar, to prick; see picaro.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun 1. picador - the horseman who pricks the bull with a lance early in the bullfight to goad the bull and to make it keep its head low
bullfighter, toreador - someone who fights bulls
equestrian, horseback rider, horseman - a man skilled in equitation

Examples from classic literature: More
The bull makes a rush, with murder in his eye, but a picador meets him with a spear-thrust in the shoulder.
A Horse's Tale by Twain, Mark View in context
The bull of the Asturias who has been but little moved by the attacks of the picador grows irritated with the dogs and banderilleras.
Notre-Dame de Paris by Hugo, Victor
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/picador

Noun: banderilla `bandu'reeu
A decorated dart that is implanted in the neck or shoulders of the bull during a bull fight
Derived forms: banderillas

Type of: dart
http://wordwebonline.com/en/BANDERILLA

Katy

[Slava]

I like the metaphorical usage here. It's too bad we have the actual usage, too. I'm not a fan of blood sports.

[saparris]

My friend has a close co-worker who she insists thinks she's a picador who uses her words like banderillas.

If she thinks she's a picador, she should use her words like picas. If she uses her words like banderillas, she should think she's a banderillera.

Picadors ride horses and use long lances (picas).

After the picadors have weakened the neck muscle of the bull so that it can no longer hold its head up, the banderilleros/as stand on the ground and throw shorter banderillas (decorated with ribbons and such) into the bull's neck, weakening the muscle further.

If it weren't for the picadors and banderilleros, the matador wouldn't be able to get into a position high enough to render the fatal blow.

[Perry]

Maybe instead of banning bullfighting, there should be a ban on picadors and banderilleros. Maybe then bullfighting would fade away on its own.

[saparris]

Maybe instead of banning bullfighting, there should be a ban on picadors and banderilleros. Maybe then bullfighting would fade away on its own.

Without the picadors and banderilleros, the outcome of every bullfight would be a moot point.

[LukeJavan8]

Brutish.

[saparris]

It's a brutish sport as is. I'm just suggesting leveling the playing field (or the ring, as it were).

[LukeJavan8]

How about abolishing it.
Makes about as much sense as dog fighting, cock fighting,
et.al.

[saparris]

Tiene que llamar al presidente de España.

[LukeJavan8]

Losiento
non habla espanol.

[saparris]

Tiene que llamar al presidente de España = You have to call the president of Spain.

You could also say, "Tendrá que...," meaning "You will have to...."

[LukeJavan8]

Spain does not have a president.
The country is ruled by a King, Juan Carlos and
his wife, Queen Sophia of Greece.

[saparris]

It was a joke.

I know Juan Carlos. His middle name is Tutrigo.

(Juan Tu Tri Go, Carlos!)

[Slava]

Spain does not have a president.
The country is ruled by a King, Juan Carlos and
his wife, Queen Sophia of Greece.

Actually, the King is the Head of State, the Head of Government (Prime Minister) has the official title of President of the Government (Presidente del Gobierno). José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has held this position since April, 2004.

[saparris]

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

I know him, too. He makes shoes on the side.