quedarle cuerda
Meaning: To still have plenty of energy, vitality, or usefulness left.
Language: Spanish
Literally: to remain rope to it
Category: Daily Life
Origin: A wound clock or mechanical device still has rope (or spring tension) if it can run longer; the phrase pictures something not yet exhausted.
More idioms — Daily Life
- de grado o por fuerza — Whether one likes it or not; willingly or unwillingly.
- mandarse a mudar — To leave abruptly or without notice; to depart hastily.
- a pesar de los pesares — Despite all difficulties and hardships; no matter what obstacles arise.
- sin cuartel — Without mercy or restraint; ruthlessly and completely.
- vender la moto — To trick or deceive someone, often by persuading them to believe a false story.
- a vida o muerte — In a desperate, all-or-nothing struggle where the stakes are the highest possible.
More Spanish idioms
- de caballo — Enormous; of impressive or overwhelming size or intensity.
- perder los estribos — To lose one's temper or composure; to become angry or agitated.
- caérsele el alma a los pies — to be deeply disappointed or dismayed.
- dorar la píldora — to make something unpleasant more palatable by presenting it attractively.
- oler a chamusquina — a situation is becoming tense or dangerous; trouble is brewing.
- cazar al vuelo — To seize or take something quickly before someone else can.
From our tongue twisters
- Pablito clavó un clavito, ¿qué clavito clavó Pablito? — A bouncy drill on the 'cl' cluster.
- Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal. — A relentless run on the 'tr' sound.
- El cielo está enladrillado, ¿quién lo desenladrillará? — A brutal test of the rolled 'r' and 'l'.