Mystery Metaphore - vuela con la jaula.

Question

A couple of days ago I was talking with an older gentleman, who was proudly telling me about his beautiful two year old granddaughter.

At one point he said:

"Estos niños son increíbles. ¡Ella vuela hasta con la jaula!"

Please no native Spanish Speakers. Let the students try and figure out what this means!

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Edit:

Rabbit is right, of course. The correct word just escaped me last night as I was trying to place my last post. I corrected the title.

Gekko, I don't think I'm even rudimentary English level... I read your caption as "mystery smile"... duh! :) - cristalino, Apr 3, 2011

Lol! - 002067fe, Apr 3, 2011

Me too! I was expecting a picture of the Mona Lisa! - rabbitwho, Apr 4, 2011

To redeem myself.. Similes have to include the words "like" or "as". (Me speeeka da Inglis, C?) - rabbitwho, Apr 4, 2011

Answer 1

I'm intermediate so I hope I can take a stab at it:

Basically, she's so talented or precocious, she can figuratively "fly even while in the cage" as if she could take off and suspend the cage around her while in flight, not just flitter around in a bird cage... just my first impression?

This is essentially correct, that's precisely what the expression means. The old man wanted to convey that his granddaughter is smart and quick-witted. Usually the expression "este niño no corre, sino que vuela" is used to describe smart and lively kids. - Gekkosan, Apr 4, 2011

This girl, Grandad implies, goes beyond that. She'd fly even if she were caged, taking the cage with her! - Gekkosan, Apr 4, 2011

Honorable mention to Sandy, who got the general idea and was close to the answer! - Gekkosan, Apr 4, 2011

Thanks Gekko... got any spare sombreros lying around? ;-) - cristalino, Apr 4, 2011

You made fun of my excellent mortarboard, so no hats for you!! :-P - Gekkosan, Apr 4, 2011

Answer 2

Kids are incredible: she would even escape from jail.

Good try, but not right. - Gekkosan, Apr 4, 2011

Answer 3

This girl is incredible! She could fly even in a cage!

Sounds good to me Sandy. - ian-hill, Apr 3, 2011

Thanks, Ian! - sanlee, Apr 3, 2011

Ditto... I get the picture of the bird flying and then the cage just levitates around it, so that the cage is really not a restriction... - cristalino, Apr 3, 2011

Yes, cristalino. That's what I see, too - sanlee, Apr 4, 2011

Very close, but not quite there. - Gekkosan, Apr 4, 2011

Oh, really! Wow.. - sanlee, Apr 4, 2011

I got honorable mention, Thanks, Gekkosan - sanlee, Apr 4, 2011

¡Gracias, Gekkosan! - sanlee, Apr 4, 2011

:) - sanlee, Apr 4, 2011

Ok - sanlee, Apr 4, 2011

Answer 4

Just my opinion a child security seat in the mind of the older generation can be an "jaula:

If I were in one I would consider it so.

Interesting interpration. Much too involved, though. :-) - Gekkosan, Apr 4, 2011