enrosco

Enrosco is a term in Spanish that functions as both a noun and a verb, with several related meanings tied to twisting, winding, or entangling. As a noun, enrosco most commonly denotes a coil, twist, or tangled mass of flexible materials such as wire, rope, or cables. It can also describe a spiral or curling shape found in certain objects or mechanisms. In botanical or agricultural contexts, plants or vines may enroscarse around a support, meaning they wind themselves around it.

As a verb, enroscar means to wind or twist around an object, or to screw something into a threaded opening. The action is common in mechanical and everyday contexts, as in enroscar una tapa onto a bottle, or enroscar un tornillo into una pieza. The past participle and adjective enroscado describe something that has been wound or screwed in, indicating a state of being coiled or threaded.

Figuratively, enroscar is used in colloquial speech to describe getting into a troublesome or complicated situation. The expression meter(se) en un enrosco conveys the idea of becoming entangled in problems, often due to a sequence of mishaps or poor decisions.

Etymology traces enrosco to en- plus rosca, referring to the idea of a threaded or twisted form. Related terms include rosca (thread), enroscar (to screw or coil), and enroscado (coiled or screwed).