What's Spanish for a ladder stand off?

I don't even know what that is in English....

If it were me, I'd go down the long-winded route. A thing that stops the ladder leaning right up against the wall. Or A thing that keeps the ladder away from the wall. Or something like that!! Why use one word when you could use twenty-one?!

is that what it is???

I have to say I'd probably do the same as you - but I'd have had to do that in English, anyway

Silly me thought you were talking about a duel with a ladder.

Must be this:

http://www.ladders.net/uploads/Ladder_Standoff1.jpg

It makes a ladder more secure, now I've answered your question can somebody answer mine?

I did. Mine was a serious answer. Ferreterias and builders merchants aren't stuffy about being told a specific item name, not in my experience.

But my Spanish is only basic & I feel so ignorant & rude trying to explain in English.

I agree - there might well be a technical term for it - but describing what it does would certainly do the trick - & then ask '¿cómo se llama en español?' - I have learned the names for various things that way

I looked in http://forum.wordreference.com/, which is the place I usually go for unusual things

it's not in the dictionary there, nor has it been asked in the forum - so odds on there isn't a common word for it

licinius - why not join that forum & ask yourself?

Take the picture and ask for something similar although Ladder and Secure are not two words that go together too frequently here !

the picture is a great idea! - say 'no sé la palabra en español, pero necesito esto - ¿cómo se llama en español?'

'I don't know the word in Spanish, but I need this - what is it called in Spanish?'

I find most Spaniards are pleasantly amused when you play charades. I wanted some needles the other day and as I walked into the shop my mind went blank.

I said to the old dear "I have forgotten the words again. What I want is this. You take a length of cotton thread, and you put it thru the eye of this thing... It's made of iron......"

She burst out laughing and brought me a selection of needles.

How gratifying - this is such familiar territory!! My 'you take a length of cotton thread' is probably more basic than that... quiero algo para hacer cosas con hilo, (lick fingers, go as if to sharpen the end of thread), frantic pointing at the imaginary needle.. 'eso, eso' !!!!

Yeah, as long as it works, it works, eh?