No ha "dado la talla" ?

Question

I was reading an article in which it says, 'no ha dado la talla'. Literally it means 'has not given the size', but does it actually mean 'has not stepped up to the plate'?

This is the sentence:

Rajoy ha afirmado que, como en otras tantas ocasiones, el Gobierno no ha "dado la talla"

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

"El gobierno no ha cumplido con las espectatívas"

"The government hasn't accomplish with the expectations"

Nice example. - 0074b507, Jun 4, 2011

Gracias!, a eso se refiere la expresión "No ha dado la talla" a que no cumplió con las expectativas que se tenían. - fjfuentesh, Jun 4, 2011

Answer 2

dar la talla

dar la ~ (en altura) to be tall enough;

(mostrarse competente) to make the grade, measure up

Ah, so 'stepping up to the plate' would be suitable here as well? - flyboy700, Jun 4, 2011

I would say no. Stepping up to the plate to me means...to take responsibility for something. You could have stepped up to the plate, then failed to measure up. - 0074b507, Jun 4, 2011

If you get your girlfriend pregnant, you step up to the plate and assume the responsibities as the father. - 0074b507, Jun 4, 2011

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/step+up+to+the+plate (has several contexts) - 0074b507, Jun 4, 2011

Answer 3

I think not measuring up is a bit different to not stepping up.

If you don't measure up to something you did step up but weren't up to the task and you failed in some way. Not stepping up is not being willing to try in the first place.

Okay. Yes...that makes sense. You're not competent enough to carry out the task. - flyboy700, Jun 4, 2011

that's the one :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 4, 2011