quedarse a la puerta: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  SpainLatin Americaneutral
  • Literal: to remain at the door or threshold.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Me quedé a la puerta esperando a que me dejaran entrar al concierto, pero no pude pasar.

    I remained at the door waiting to be let into the concert, but I couldn’t get in.

  • Los invitados se quedaron a la puerta porque el lugar ya estaba lleno y no aceptaron más gente.

    The guests stayed at the door because the venue was full and they didn’t accept more people.

  • Cuando el timbre sonó, todos nos quedamos a la puerta para recibir al visitante.

    When the doorbell rang, we all stayed at the door to greet the visitor.

  • El perro se quedó a la puerta de la casa toda la noche esperando que regresara su dueño.

    The dog stayed at the door of the house all night waiting for its owner to return.

• 2.

  SpainLatin Americainformal
  • Figurative: to be left out or excluded from participation or admission; to fail to obtain something at the last moment.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Quedé a la puerta del club porque no aceptaron mi membresía a último momento.

    I was left out of the club because they didn’t accept my membership at the last moment.

  • Después de tanto esfuerzo, nos quedamos a la puerta del campeonato y no pudimos avanzar.

    After so much effort, we were left out of the championship and couldn’t advance.

  • Ana quiso entrar al grupo, pero al final se quedó a la puerta y no la aceptaron.

    Ana wanted to join the group, but in the end she was left out and they didn’t accept her.