en la punta de la lengua: meaning & examples
Open in appLanguage: Spanish
Meanings:
- To have a word, name, or fact nearly remembered and feel that it is about to be recalled but cannot immediately produce it.
- To be on the verge of remembering or pronouncing something that one cannot quite retrieve at the moment.
Examples
BetaTengo la palabra en la punta de la lengua, pero no logro recordarla para el examen.
I have the word on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t recall it for the exam.
¿No te pasa que a veces tienes el nombre en la punta de la lengua y no puedes decirlo?
Don’t you sometimes have a name on the tip of your tongue and can’t say it?
Estuve todo el día con esa canción en la punta de la lengua, pero no la pude recordar hasta ahora.
I had that song on the tip of my tongue all day, but I couldn’t remember it until now.
- To be ready or poised to say something; to have an utterance prepared but not yet spoken.
Examples
BetaTenía la respuesta en la punta de la lengua, pero decidí callarme para no interrumpir.
I had the answer ready to say, but I decided to stay silent to avoid interrupting.
Estaba con el comentario en la punta de la lengua cuando el profesor cambió de tema repentinamente.
I had the comment poised on my lips when the teacher suddenly changed the subject.
Cuando me preguntaron, tuve la idea en la punta de la lengua, pero me faltó valor para expresarla.
When they asked me, I had the idea ready to say, but I lacked the courage to express it.
Examples:
- ES: "Vaya, tengo su nombre en la punta de la lengua."EN: This is most strange... I have your name on the tip of my tongue.
- ES: Lo tengo en los ojos y en la punta de la lengua.EN: It's in me eye and on the tip of me tongue.
- ES: ¿Tiene buenas palabras en la punta de la lengua?EN: Got a sizzling statement on the tip of your tongue?
- ES: Lo tengo en la punta de la lengua.EN: It's right on the tip of my tongue.EN: It's on the tip of my tongue.EN: It's on the tip of my tongue.EN: Gee, it's right on the tip of my tongue.EN: I have it on the tip of my tongue.EN: It's on the tip of my tongue!
- ES: - Vamos, hombre la tiene en la punta de la lengua.EN: - Come now, man it's on the tip of your tongue.
- ES: Tengo su nombre en la punta de la lengua.EN: Name's on the tip of my tongue.
- ES: El nombre está en la punta de la lengua.EN: The name is on the tip of the tongue.
- ES: - Lo tenía en la punta de la lengua.EN: - He took the words right out of my mouth.
- ES: Ya me acuerdo, lo tengo en la punta de la lengua.EN: I remember. Uh... It's on the tip of my tongue.
- ES: ¿Has intentado recordar un nombre que tienes en la punta de la lengua y cuando lo vas a decir se te va?EN: Did you ever try to remember something like somebody's name, have it on the tip of your tongue almost,then, just as you're about to say it, lose it?
- ES: La tengo en la punta de la lengua.EN: Damn!EN: I got it on the tip of my tongue!
- ES: - Lo tengo en la punta de la lengua.EN: It was right on the tip of my tongue.
- ES: Si la policía me detiene tendré eso que has dicho en la punta de la lengua.EN: If they ever get me in the backroom of that police station I'll have it on the tip of my tongue.
- ES: No me lo diga, lo tengo en la punta de la lengua.EN: No, don't tell me, it's on the tip of my tongue.
- ES: Ahora mismo daría un dólar de plata... solo para sentir un poco de picazón en la punta de la lengua.EN: Right now I'd give a whole silver dollar... for just enough to sting the edge of me tongue.
- ES: - No... pero lo tenías en la punta de la lengua.EN: - No but it was on the tip of your tongue.
- ES: Le he visto varias veces con la confesión en la punta de la lengua.EN: Several times, you almost confessed to it.
- ES: - Los tenía en la punta de la lengua.EN: -They were on the tip of my tongue.
- ES: La última vez tenía la proposición en la punta de la lengua.EN: The last time, his proposal was on the tip of his tongue.
- ES: Hace unos años, tuve su nombre en la punta de la lengua.EN: IT WAS ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE A FEW YEARS BACK.
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Source: Wiktionary