IdiomDaily Life
Spanish
Spanishde un plumazo
Meaning: suddenly or in a single swift action, as if accomplished with one stroke of a pen.
Literally: With a single feather stroke
Example: “El nuevo alcalde suprimió el festival de un plumazo.” — The new mayor abolished the festival at the stroke of a pen.
English equivalent: At the stroke of a pen
Equivalents in other languages
English: at the stroke of a pen
Origin: A plumazo is a stroke of the quill, and a single stroke on a decree or a ledger could abolish a law, cancel a debt or end a career. Doing something de un plumazo is doing it at a stroke, suddenly and with no fuss, often with a hint that it was too easy.
More Spanish idioms
- mal trago a difficult or unpleasant experience; a bitter pill to swallow.
- en dos patadas very easily or effortlessly.
- 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.
- lío de faldas A romantic or sexual entanglement with a woman; an affair.
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- 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.
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