de un plumazo
Meaning: suddenly or in a single swift action, as if accomplished with one stroke of a pen.
Language: Spanish
Literally: with a single feather stroke
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The phrase pictures a document or decree written or signed with one decisive stroke of a quill, evoking official authority or the irreversible speed of a pen's movement.
More idioms — Daily Life
- ni a tiros — absolutely not; under no circumstances.
- a la buena de Dios — To proceed carelessly or without proper planning, leaving the outcome to chance or fate.
- cuéntame una de vaqueros — A challenge to someone to stop lying or exaggerating; an equivalent of "pull the other on…
- cortar por lo sano — To sever a problem decisively rather than manage it halfway, making a clean break or radi…
- de tres al cuarto — Worthless, shoddy, or of poor quality.
- venir mal dadas — For things to go wrong or turn out badly.
More Spanish idioms
- mal trago — a difficult or unpleasant experience; a bitter pill to swallow.
- en dos patadas — very easily or effortlessly.
- no sé qué y no sé cuánto — An undefined or vague something; an indescribable quality or collection of things.
- con pies de plomo — To proceed with extreme caution or wariness; to tread carefully in a delicate situation.
- tomar el toro por los cuernos — To face a difficult problem directly and courageously rather than avoiding it.
- caer en gracia — To charm someone instantly or be liked right away.
From our compliments & insults
- Eres la leche — You're the best — absolutely fantastic.
- Eres más corto que las mangas de un chaleco — You're not the sharpest — a bit slow on the uptake.
- Eres un sol — You're a lovely, warm-hearted person.