madrugar (anteceder a outrem em qualquer coisa)

[elroy]

Hello!

I have a question about the third definition given here: Anteceder a outrem em qualquer coisa.

The dictionary says it's "intransitive." If that's the case, how do you refer to the person that you beat to the thing? Does it take the preposition "a"? Can someone give me an example?

 

[Carfer]

Para ter certeza de que seria o primeiro a fazer um registro na Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (Anatel), o presidente da Iridium no Brasil, Cleófas Uchôa, madrugou ontem em Brasília. E conseguiu. É dele o pedido número 001 de autorização para explorar a telefonia móvel via satélite de baixa órbita

It's metaphorical and yes, it's intransitive because it just means that someone acts early, before the competiton, in this case that he was the first to make the request, probably ealier than it would normally be expected.

 

[elroy]

Ah, so it's kind of like "He got there first" or "He beat the crowd" or something (depending on context), without a specific reference to other people? In other words, you would never say "madrugou + [preposição] + [uma pessoa]," right?

 

[Carfer]

Right.

 

[Nonstar]

Cê anda madrugando, Elroy?