estaba tocando

was playing, was touching

→ estar

phrase Rare #37,321

was playing, was touching Often used for playing a musical instrument. Depending on context, tocar can also mean to touch. In very informal phrases like tocar las pelotas, it means to bother or annoy.

SP: A las seis estaba tocando el piano.

EN: At six, I was playing the piano.

Lo oí cuando él estaba tocando el violín.

I heard it when he was playing the violin.

Tomás estaba tocando la trompeta.

Thomas was playing the trumpet.

Te estaba tocando un poco las pelotas.

I was just getting on your nerves a bit.

— Uno de los nuestros (1990)

Me sentí como si una mano fría me estaba tocando.

I felt as if a cold hand was touching me.

Cuando vine a casa, mi hermana estaba tocando la guitarra.

When I came home, my sister was playing the guitar.

La historia del Trío Ternura estaba tocando a su fin.

The story of the Ternura Trio was coming to an end.

— Ciudad de Dios (2002)

El gato estaba tocando al ratón con su pata.

The cat was touching the mouse with its paw.