enzarzar

to entangle

verb en-sahr-SAHR Rare

Origin: From zarza (bramble bush), so literally to catch someone in brambles.

Also means

to get into a quarrel

Usage Note

Enzarzar is almost always used reflexively as enzarzarse: se enzarzaron en una discusión (they got entangled in an argument). The literal sense — to get caught in brambles — is rare today. The spelling change z → c before e applies: enzarce. It conveys a sense of getting drawn into something messy and hard to escape, usually a dispute, debate, or fight.

Examples

"Los dos políticos se enzarzaron en un debate acalorado."

Natural Translation

The two politicians got entangled in a heated debate.

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