vara
stick
Reviewed by: David WestfallCofounder
A slender stick, and the things a stick stands for
Encoding Strategies:
mnemonic
visual
bar
long, rigid rod
+
-a
noun suffix
Vara means stick and sounds like the English word bar0, since a vara is a long, thin bar of wood.
vara
stick, pole, rod
A long, thin piece of wood or metal.
Aparté a la culebra con una varaI moved the snake away with a stick
El techo se sostiene con varas de bambúThe roof is held up by bamboo poles
vara, yard,
yardstick
An old unit of length, a bit under a yard, measured against a stick cut to that length.
El terreno mide cien varas de frenteThe lot is a hundred varas wide
No puedes medir a los dos hijos con la misma varaYou can't measure both sons by the same yardstick
staff, rod (of authority)
The ceremonial stick a mayor or judge carries as a sign of office.
El alcalde llevaba la vara en la procesiónThe mayor carried the staff in the procession
Le entregaron el bastón de mando y la varaThey handed him the baton of command and the staff
pull, connections, influence
Pull or influence with someone in charge. It comes from the ceremonial stick the mayor holds as a sign of office: whoever holds it has the power that goes with it.
Consiguió el puesto porque tiene vara con el directorHe got the job because he has pull with the director
Sin vara no entras a esa oficinaWithout connections you don't get into that office