TORTHAÍ
IN FOCLÓIR GAEILGE—BÉARLA
spreotáil, f. (gs. -ála). 1. (Act of) hacking, chopping; (act of) chipping. Ag ~ ar chrann, hacking at a tree. Ag ~ adhmaid, chopping wood. Ag ~ ar chlocha, chipping stones. Ag ~ aráin, cutting chunks of bread. 2. (Act of) muddling, messing. Ag ~ ar obair, messing with work. Níl tú ach ag ~ air, you are only fumbling with it. Bím ag ~ liom, I muddle through. Tá sé ag ~ roimhe, he is feeling his way along. 3. Bhí sé ag ~ ar labhairt liom, he was trying to start a conversation with me. Ná bí ag ~ mar sin, don’t beat about the bush like that. (Var: spreoitseáil)