
IdiomDaily Life
Spanish
quedarle cuerda
Meaning: To still have plenty of energy, vitality, or usefulness left.
Literally: To remain rope to it
Example: “A mis ochenta años todavía me queda cuerda para bailar.” — At eighty, I still have plenty left in the tank for dancing.
English equivalent: To have plenty left in the tank
Equivalents in other languages
English: have plenty left in the tank
Origin: Cuerda here is the winding of a clock or a wind-up toy: dar cuerda is to wind it up, and while some winding remains it keeps going. Someone who todavía le queda cuerda still has energy and life left in them; Spanish also says tener cuerda para rato (to have winding for a good while).
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- 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.
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