Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary > Idioms & Sayings


El colmo...

 

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not readily apparent based on the individual words in the expression. This forum is dedicated to discussing idioms and other sayings.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old April 30, 2008, 06:04 PM
Jane's Avatar
Jane Jane is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Spain
Posts: 727
Native Language: English
Jane will become famous soon enough
El colmo...

¡Esto es el colmo!
I know that here in Spain colmo means something like the limit or the last straw, but i´d like to know if it´s used differently in other spanish speaking countries. And if yes, how is it used?
__________________
Life´s Beautiful !
It gets even better!!!
Jane.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old April 30, 2008, 09:01 PM
Tomisimo's Avatar
Tomisimo Tomisimo is offline
Davidísimo
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North America
Posts: 5,664
Native Language: American English
Tomisimo will become famous soon enoughTomisimo will become famous soon enough
It's used pretty much the same in México.
Es el cooooolmo que te hayas equivocado siendo tan inteligente.
Es el colmo que siendo carpintero no te puedes hacer una puerta.
that's the limit ... that's utterly ridiculous are two good translations.

También he escuchado por ejemplo:
Es el colmo de la elegancia.
It's the height of elegance.
__________________
If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old May 01, 2008, 04:06 AM
Alfonso Alfonso is offline
Filósofo y Poeta
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,239
Alfonso will become famous soon enough
Hi, Jane,
You have some more information about el colmo here, without going away from Tomísimo.
The examples David has given to us are also very commonly used in Spain.
__________________
I welcome all corrections to my English.
Salu2 desde Madrid,
Alfonso
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old May 01, 2008, 05:46 AM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
In English we use epitome (pronounced epítomy) and the height where Spanish speakers use colmo. I notice that epitome is also a Spanish word. Is it synonimous to colmo in Spanish?

Examples:
This is the epitome of beauty/ This is the height of beauty
This is the epitome of nonsense/ This is the height of nonsense
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old May 01, 2008, 08:00 AM
Alfonso Alfonso is offline
Filósofo y Poeta
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,239
Alfonso will become famous soon enough
Epítome is completely different from colmo, as epítome is a really formal / academic way to mean abstract (of an article, essay, etc.).

Epítome es sinónimo de resumen, pero se usa mucho más resumen. La etimología griega de epítome lo convierte en una palabra que casi sólo se usa en el ámbito de la Filología.
__________________
I welcome all corrections to my English.
Salu2 desde Madrid,
Alfonso
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old May 01, 2008, 08:04 AM
Alfonso Alfonso is offline
Filósofo y Poeta
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,239
Alfonso will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by poli View Post
This is the epitome of beauty
This is the epitome of nonsense
I understand epitome is used in the previous sentences with the nuance of abstract, which is its Greek meaning. Is epitome commonly used in English?
__________________
I welcome all corrections to my English.
Salu2 desde Madrid,
Alfonso
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old May 01, 2008, 08:11 AM
Elaina's Avatar
Elaina Elaina is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,565
Native Language: English
Elaina will become famous soon enough
The word itself, "epitome" is not commonly used.

Elaina
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old May 01, 2008, 08:12 AM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Yes, it is very commonly used.

She is the epitome of beauty. He is the epitome of a hard worker.
But, 'he is at the height of his career' is more common than 'he is at the epitome of his career.'
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old May 01, 2008, 08:12 AM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
Yes,epitome is common. Because it has more than two syllables less educated people are less likely to use it, but just about everyone understands it. It's common. You can use essence too.
This is the essence of stupidity
This is the essence of brilliance

Se puede usar esencia así. Ejemplo: Eso es la esencia de lo absurdo.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old May 01, 2008, 08:14 AM
Elaina's Avatar
Elaina Elaina is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,565
Native Language: English
Elaina will become famous soon enough
To tell you the truth, I have not heard that word used in years. I've heard essence, height, etc but not epitome.

Maybe I live in the "wrong part of town".

Elaina
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
chiste, colmo, funny, joke, last straw, wit's end

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:06 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X