Hitchhiking
Definition
An informal and often free (or low-cost) method of travel, whereby a person requests transport along a route by signaling with their hand (usually with a raised thumb) to drivers traveling in the same direction. This social phenomenon reflects a form of solidarity-based mobility widely found in youth tourism or areas with poor public transport.
Bilingual Equivalents
- Hitchhiking
- Autostop
Grammatical & Source Details
| Inflection Type | Neuter noun, singular only in standard contemporary lexicons, with regular case inflections. |
| Formation | Borrowed from French (autostop), fusing the operational concepts of automobile and stopping. |
| Spelling / Pronunciation | [a.u.to.ˈstop] |
| Source | Glossary of Alternative Tourism, Modern Travel and Budget Mobility Cultures |
Contextual Usage Examples
RO: În timpul facultății, a străbătut întreaga Europă făcând autostopul, economisind banii de tren.
EN: During college, he traveled across the whole of Europe by hitchhiking, saving money on train tickets.
RO: Șoferul amabil a oprit la marginea șoselei când a văzut tânărul care făcea autostopul pe timp de ploaie.
EN: The kind driver pulled over to the side of the road when he saw the young man hitchhiking in the rain.
RO: Deși este o aventură interesantă, practicarea unui autostop pe autostrăzi este ilegală și extrem de periculoasă.
EN: Although it is an interesting adventure, practicing hitchhiking on highways is illegal and extremely dangerous.
Idioms & Phrases
A face autostopul / To hitchhike
RO: Acțiunea fizică și simbolică de a sta pe marginea unui drum solicitând mașinilor de trecere o călătorie gratuită.
EN: The physical and symbolic act of standing on the side of a road requesting passing cars for a free ride.
Călător prin autostop / Hitchhiker
RO: Turist sau persoană care folosește exclusiv vehiculele de ocazie ca mijloc principal de transport pe distanțe lungi.
EN: A tourist or person who exclusively uses passing vehicles as their primary means of long-distance transport.
Loc de autostop / Hitchhiking spot
RO: Zonă sigură situată de obicei la ieșirea din orașe sau în intersecții mari, unde mașinile pot opri fără a bloca traficul.
EN: A safe area usually located at city exits or large intersections where cars can pull over without blocking traffic.
Latest Contextual News
No recent news found for this topic.