a cal y canto — meaning & examples

Language: es

Meanings:

  • 1.

    SpainLatin Americaneutralformal
    • Sealed, closed, or secured very tightly so as to prevent entry or exit.
    • Completely shut off or locked up, with no openings or access.

    Examples

    Beta

    • La casa quedó a cal y canto después de que cerraron todas las ventanas y puertas.

      The house was sealed tightly after they closed all the windows and doors.

    • Aseguraron el almacén a cal y canto para evitar robos durante la noche.

      They secured the warehouse tightly to prevent theft during the night.

    • El sótano estaba a cal y canto, sin ninguna rendija por donde pudiera entrar aire.

      The basement was closed tight, without any crack for air to enter.

  • 2.

    SpainLatin Americaneutral
    • Figuratively, kept completely secret or isolated from outside contact.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Durante la investigación, mantuvieron a cal y canto la información para no filtrarla.

      During the investigation, they kept the information completely secret to avoid leaks.

    • El testigo fue aislado a cal y canto para que no hablara con nadie antes del juicio.

      The witness was isolated tightly so he wouldn’t talk to anyone before the trial.

    • Los documentos confidenciales permanecieron a cal y canto hasta que se autorizó su publicación.

      The confidential documents were kept completely locked away until their publication was authorized.

Examples:

  • ES: Sólo puertas cerradas a cal y canto y ventanas sin luz, corazones herméticos y odio enconado.
    EN: Nothing but locked doors and darkened windows... locked hearts and bitter hatred.
  • ES: Cerrada a cal y canto.
    EN: All locked up.
  • ES: ¡Puedes cerrar todas las puertas a cal y canto!
    EN: And you can lock and bolt all the doors!
  • ES: La puerta estaba cerrada a cal y canto.
    EN: The door was bolted shut.
  • ES: Hemos de aprender a controlarlas, a cerrarlas a cal y canto.
    EN: We got to learn to control them lips, tighten up them ears a little tighter!
  • ES: Se encerró a cal y canto.
    EN: He locked himself up at home.
  • ES: Mientras estoy fuera, mantened la puerta cerrada a cal y canto. en caso de que esa multitud descubra donde estamos.
    EN: While I'm out, keep the door locked and bolted in case that mob find out where we are.
  • ES: En 2 o 3 horas puede despertar, así que lo encierran a cal y canto y entréguelo a la patrulla de la galaxia.
    EN: In 2 or 3 hours he may wake up, so lock him up tight and give him to the galaxy patrol.
  • ES: Anoche, este edificio estaba cerrado a cal y canto.
    EN: THIS BUILDING WAS LOCKED TIGHT AS A DRUM LAST NIGHT.
  • ES: Y después, cerró el sitio a cal y canto y no quiso contarle a nadie lo que pasó.
    EN: And after that, she had the place locked up, wouldn't tell anybody what happened to her.
  • ES: Pero pienso que está realmente encerrada a cal y canto.
    EN: But I think that she's really barricaded herself in pretty good.
  • ES: Los matones de Hitler tenían el lugar cerrado a cal y canto.
    EN: Uncle Adolf's goose-stepping goons had the place sealed tight.
  • ES: Sellado a cal y canto.
    EN: I'm locking the vault.
  • ES: -Siempre solo, cerrado a cal y canto.
    EN: Always alone. - He never went out.
  • ES: ¡Y nuestras hermanas, vestidas de negro, harán luto a través de la casa... y será un coro de aullidos, sollozos y susurros... en esa danza familiar cerrada a cal y canto!
    EN: And our sisters... dressed in black, will run around the house in mourning. It'll be a chorus of howling, sobbing and whimpering... a locked-up family dance!
  • ES: Encerrada a cal y canto con un cigarrilloy una escopeta... lista para matar todo lo que entre. lista para matar todo lo que entre.
    EN: - Locked up cozy and tight with a cigarette and a shotgun... ready to kill anything that comes through the door.
  • ES: - La discoteca está cerrada a cal y canto.
    EN: - The club is locked down tight.
  • ES: Mantendremos este lugar cerrado a cal y canto.
    EN: We're gonna keep this place locked down.
  • ES: Catalina, coge a tu hijo, vete a casa, y cierra la puerta a cal y canto, y no preguntes.
    EN: Catalina, take your son, go home. Close the door and bar it, and don't ask why.
  • ES: La casa estaba cerrada a cal y canto cuando llegué.
    EN: The house was locked up tighter than a drum when I got here.

Related Idioms

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