pisar (a fondo) el embrague
step (fully) on the clutch
The Spanish phrase 'pisar (a fondo) el embrague' is translated in English as 'step (fully) on the clutch'. It is a term commonly used in the context of operating a manual vehicle. The clutch is a mechanical device that disengages and re-engages the power transmission, especially from the driving shaft to the driven shaft. Stepping fully on the clutch means to completely depress the pedal, which is usually necessary before changing gears. Therefore, this term may often come up in situations where a vehicle's gears need to be switched, or when the car is starting or stopping.
Example sentences using: pisar (a fondo) el embrague
Antes de cambiar de marcha, es necesario pisar (a fondo) el embrague.
Before shifting gears, it is necessary to depress the clutch fully.
This phrase explains the common driver's action to fully press the clutch pedal before shifting gears in a manual transmission vehicle. When 'pisar (a fondo) el embrague' which translates to 'depress the clutch fully', the connection between the engine and the transmission is interrupted to allow the shift.
Si no se pisa (a fondo) el embrague al arrancar, el coche puede calarse.
If you don't depress the clutch fully when starting, the car can stall.
This sentence refers to the common occurrence in manual vehicles where, if the clutch isn't fully depressed ('pisar (a fondo) el embrague') when starting the car, there's a risk of the engine stalling as it tries to engage the transmission and the load is too great.
El instructor insistió en que cuando frenamos, siempre debemos pisar (a fondo) el embrague.
The instructor insisted that when we brake, we should always depress the clutch fully.
When a driver brakes in a manual transmission vehicle, it is common for them to fully depress the clutch ('pisar (a fondo) el embrague') to remove the load from the engine by disconnecting it from the wheels, thus allowing the brake force to more effectively slow the car down.