Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

The light is burning

 

Vocab questions, definitions, usage, etc


Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1
Old June 01, 2012, 01:18 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
Question The light is burning

What is the sense of this expression?
Time is ticking?

I've seen "the light is burning dimly..." or "the light is burning bright" and I take it will have different connotations in different contexts, but is there any specific definition for it?

Is it something like something similar to "make hay while the sun shines"? (La ocasión la pintan calva...)
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie.
"An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2
Old June 01, 2012, 01:28 PM
Perikles's Avatar
Perikles Perikles is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tenerife
Posts: 4,814
Native Language: Inglés
Perikles is on a distinguished road
I think the context is required - I don't think it has a specific meaning on its own.
Reply With Quote
  #3
Old June 01, 2012, 01:51 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is online now
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,403
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
If someone has a task to complete, 'the light is burning' means 'time is ticking', 'you're wasting time/the day away' or 'make hay while the sun shines'. I've also heard "Daylight's burning."
Reply With Quote
  #4
Old June 01, 2012, 02:02 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
Ok, thank you both!

Yes, my context indicates the idea of 'time is ticking', it will take the sense in specific contexts, but good to know the "daylight's burning" is also a kind of a set expression...

At any rate... I better hurry up, (I am late, I am late... for a very important date...)
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie.
"An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
Reply With Quote
  #5
Old June 06, 2012, 07:08 PM
Glen Glen is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 718
Native Language: English
Glen is on a distinguished road
I seem to recall how John Wayne, in the classic movie The Cowboys, used to get everybody up in the morning for a day on the trail, with the line "C'mon boys, we're burnin' daylight!"
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

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

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Light at the end of the tunnel poli Idioms & Sayings 12 June 24, 2010 07:54 PM
In this light irmamar Vocabulary 5 November 07, 2009 02:28 AM
In light of... lblanco Translations 22 April 30, 2009 01:08 PM
Translation...In light of lblanco Translations 2 February 07, 2009 02:00 PM
Iniciales on a Light bill from Mexico Randall Culture 5 January 16, 2008 09:01 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:58 AM.

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

X