de cabo a rabo — meaning & examples

Language: es

Meanings:

  • 1.

    SpainLatin Americaneutral
    • From beginning to end; in its entirety (used of reading, examining, or traversing something).
    • Thoroughly; completely covering every part or aspect of something.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Leí la novela de cabo a rabo en una sola noche porque la historia era muy atrapante.

      I read the novel from beginning to end in one night because the story was very captivating.

    • El inspector examinó el vehículo de cabo a rabo antes de aprobarlo para la venta.

      The inspector thoroughly checked the vehicle from top to bottom before approving it for sale.

    • Durante el viaje, recorrimos el país de cabo a rabo, visitando todas las regiones principales.

      During the trip, we traveled the country from end to end, visiting all the main regions.

    • El abogado leyó el contrato de cabo a rabo para asegurarse de que no hubiera cláusulas engañosas.

      The lawyer read the contract from beginning to end to make sure there were no misleading clauses.

  • 2.

    SpainLatin Americainformalcolloquial
    • Utterly or in every respect (used to emphasize that a quality or condition applies throughout).

    Examples

    Beta

    • El proyecto fue un desastre de cabo a rabo por falta de planificación y comunicación.

      The project was a complete disaster in every respect due to lack of planning and communication.

    • Su historia es falsa de cabo a rabo; no hay ni una sola verdad en ella.

      His story is utterly false through and through; there isn’t a single truth in it.

    • La película me decepcionó de cabo a rabo, desde el guion hasta la actuación.

      The movie disappointed me utterly, from the script to the acting.

Examples:

  • ES: Se lee la prensa de cabo a rabo.
    EN: The press reads from beginning to end.
  • ES: Y aunque conozco la biblia de cabo a rabo y muchos de sus pasajes están grabados en mi corazón ésta, conciudadanos, es la primera vez que se me ha solicitado hablar en nombre de Dios en Su Templo.
    EN: And while I know my bible from cover to cover... and many of its passages are graven on my heart... this, fellow citizens, is the very first time... that I have ever been required to speak the word of God in His temple.
  • ES: Me lo he inventado de cabo a rabo.
    EN: I have invented from beginning to end.
  • ES: Es un negocio espantoso de cabo a rabo.
    EN: It's a ghastly business all around.
  • ES: Nos ha engañado de cabo a rabo.
    EN: First and last we've been fouled by him.
  • ES: Lo he arreglado para que lo examinen de cabo a rabo.
    EN: I've arranged to have someone go over it from stem to stern.
  • ES: Me recorrí esta chalana de cabo a rabo. Ni rastro del dinero.
    EN: I've been over this tub from stem to stern... and there ain't a sign of that dough anyplace.
  • ES: Corrimos la ciudad de cabo a rabo.
    EN: - Searched very inch of the town.
  • ES: Me compré el lote completo de enciclopedias y me las leí de cabo a rabo
    EN: You're a student of life. Well, I worked my way through college selling encyclopedias.
  • ES: La estoy retapizando de cabo a rabo.
    EN: - I'm reupholstering it.
  • ES: Ella es una Gaylord, de cabo a rabo.
    EN: SHE'S A GAYLORD, THROUGH AND THROUGH.
  • ES: Conocemos este lugar de cabo a rabo.
    EN: But we've been over these grounds with a fine tooth comb.
  • ES: Sí, de cabo a rabo.
    EN: Yeah, in spades.
  • ES: Conozco su vida de cabo a rabo, mientes.
    EN: I know Madeleine's life from A to Z.
  • ES: En una novela romántica que he leído de cabo a rabo, hay un capítulo sobre la llamada del amor.
    EN: Yes but who wants to die? ♪ In a book of love and I have read through all of it ♪ ♪ There's a chapter there referring to the call of it ♪
  • ES: Enséñame la etiqueta para estas fiestas, y me la aprenderé de cabo a rabo.
    EN: You give me the book of etiquette for this and I'll read it cover to cover.
  • ES: Esta visita se sitúa a uno o dos meses del notable, inesperado y milagroso acontecimiento, que iba a transformar Cantenac de cabo a rabo.
    EN: This visit takes place a month or two before the considerable, unexpected, miraculous event, which was to completely transform Cantenac.
  • ES: El tío Jo se lo creerá de cabo a rabo.
    EN: Uncle Jo will fall for it hook, line and sinker.
  • ES: Es una dama de cabo a rabo.
    EN: Why, she don't even smell like a dog.
  • ES: Un chucho de cabo a rabo, pero registra como un perro de caza.
    EN: Hound from pup to papa, but castin' like a bird dog.

Related Idioms

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Sourced from Wiktionary