Observation: Although “chico” as a noun is translated as boy, as an adjetive it is synonymous to “pequeño” [small]. So, as an adjective written out as “achicador” it makes sense it would mean a reduction, a lessening, a diminishing. In this case, less water in the boat or wherever it is. “cubo” is a common way for saying a bucket used for bailing out a boat, and its meaning has been this since 1877.
2) bomba achicadora: bilge pumpwh
Observation: A few year ago I received a phone call from a criminal defense attorney that went down to Mexico to investigate a case. He was using Google Translate and called me to ask me why a person he interviewed had said there was a bomb on the boat. I told him it was likely he was referring to a pump, perhaps a bilge pump, since the word “bomba” means both bomb and pump. This also means “drain pump.” However, with boats and ship, a “bilge” is the underwater body between the the flat bottom and the vertical topsides, in addition to the inner portion of the ship’s inner hull. In this latter meaning, its first recorded use was in the year 1513,
3) un pantalón achicado: taken in a pair of pants
Observation: In this case the verb phrase “take in” means to make smaller or reduce in size and usually refers to its width.
4) los reveses lo han achicado al vendedor: the setbacks have diminisihed the salesman's confidence
Observation: Here it is used figuratively since literally it the setbacks have diminshed or reduced the salesman. However, obviously they have not made him smaller physically, but rather hurt or diminished his confidence.
5) nada lo achica al equipo: nothing daunts the team
Observation: Here it is also figurative, and since nothing makes the team feel smaller, it is not fazed, daunted or intimidated.
6) tenemos que achicar el agua de la lancha: we have to bail out the water from the boat
Observation: Two synonymous translations for the above would be to scoop water out of the boat and drain the water out of the boat. However, “bail out” is a very common translation when removing water from a boat or ship.
7) no te achiques: don't feel intimidated, don't feel daunted, don’t feel fazed.
Observation: The meaning here is the same as in exampl five, above. The only difference is that in this case it is reflexive.
