IdiomDaily LifeSpanish

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

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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