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La Palabra del Día: "el colmo"

La Palabra del Día: "el colmo"

6
votes

el colmo

noun (height)

Use today's Word of the Day in your own Spanish sentence (and include the English translation as well). Try to use the word in a completely new way and vote on the sentences you like best. The sentence with the most votes will be crowned the Word of the Day winner!

Guidelines:

Write sentences at least 5 words long, but don't write a paragraph either. Write your Spanish sentence, but include the English translation as well. Make the corrections suggested by other users and moderators in the comments section (try not to use personal pronouns unless absolutely necessary). Use your own words! (Don't use a translator, copy from a book, use song lyrics, etc.) Have fun experimenting with Spanish.

Examples:

1.Eso es el colmo de la tontería.

That is just the height of stupidity.

2.Emilio llegó al colmo de todos sus sueños.

Emilio reached the height of all his dreams.

8389 views
updated Mar 24, 2012
posted by rac1
do I break the rules if I translate or check out the spelling of a word? - shama807, Mar 18, 2012
Buenos días, Rac!:) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 18, 2012
You can check! :):) - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
Rac1: Maybe in the second sentence "colmo" wouldn't be the best word, in that case you could use "cima" that fits pretty well. - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
RAC, I think we will have to have 'cima' soon for the word of the day. I made exactly this error too... - annierats, Mar 19, 2012
Thank you. These are examples from the site. I'll pass it on.:):) - rac1, Mar 19, 2012

20 Answers

6
votes

¡Y para colmo, su novio se puso un traje rosado en la boda!

And to top it all, her fiancé wore a pink suit in the wedding!

enter image description here

updated Mar 24, 2012
posted by katydew
It suits him well ;-))) Much better choice than her yellow & orange wedding gown! - mcl020, Mar 18, 2012
:))) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 18, 2012
lol! - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
Well done! - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
Thanks Caefuego! - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
Now, that's hot, hot pink! - bandit51jd, Mar 19, 2012
7
votes

"el colmo" is also used as a joke by Hispanics. Look.

  • ¿Cuál es el colmo de un astronauta? - Que su esposa sea una lunatica.
    ¿Cuál es el colmo de un ciego? - Llamarse Casimiro Buenavista ¿Cuál es el colmo más pequeño? El colmillo... ¿Cuál es el colmo de los colmos? - Que un mudo, le diga a un sordo que un ciego, le esta espiando. ¿Cuál es el colmo de un enano? Que lo pare un policía y le diga, ¡ALTO! ¿Cuál es el colmo de un sordo? Que al morir le dediquen un minuto de silencio. --> Good jajajjajaj ¿Cuál es el colmo de un ciego? Que le dé miedo la oscuridad. ¿Cuál es el colmo de un bombero? Tener una esposa ardiente. ¿Cuál es el colmo de ser vago? Levantarse dos horas antes, para estar más tiempo sin hacer nada. ¿Cuál es el colmo de un jardinero? Que su novia se llame Rosa y lo deje plantado. ¿Cuál es el colmo de una tonta? Que se mire al espejo y diga, "yo te conozco". ¿Cuál es el colmo de un astronaunta? Estar serca de las estrellas y no poderles pedir un autografo. ¿Cuál es el colmo de un policia? Tener dos esposas. ¿Cuál es el colmo de una escoba? Ser alérgica al polvo. ¿Cuál es el colmo de un meteorólogo? No tener tiempo para nada. ¿Cuál es el colmo de una farmacia? Que la vendan porque no queda más remedio. Cuál es el colmo de un Robot? Tener nervios de acero. ¿Cuál es el colmo de un astrónomo? Enamorarse de una estrella...de cine. ¿Cuál es el colmo de un ladrón? Que el hijo sea policía. ¿Cuál es el colmo de un albañil? Llamarse Armando Paredes. ¿Cuál es el colmo de un jardinero? Que siempre lo dejen plantado. ¿Cuál es el colmo de una maleta? Pedir vacaciones, porque está cansada de tanto viajar.
updated Mar 24, 2012
posted by Jonathansanzt
These were fun Jonathan. Thanks. - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
:D - racoonka, Mar 19, 2012
jaj - Rey_Mysterio, Mar 19, 2012
6
votes

Es el colmo de la estupidez que continúen fumando.

It is the height of foolishness to continue to smoke.

enter image description here

enter image description here

updated Mar 19, 2012
edited by rac1
posted by rac1
Sí, es verdad!:) How stupid I am?!;) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 18, 2012
Hello rac. Can you tell me if my picture is under my caption please. I'm having some trouble with it - jool, Mar 18, 2012
It seems as if it might be too late for these two anyway... ha. - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
lol, That's the truth!::):) - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
Your sentence it's OK if it's the complement in a sentence or depending on context, otherswise you might say: "Es el colmo de la estupidez que continúen fumando". (subjuntivo) This sentence has a meaning by itself. - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
Thank you Caefuego! I like your suggestion better!:):) - rac1, Mar 19, 2012
5
votes

Es el colmo de la felicidad, cuando puedo dormir por la mañana el lunes.

It is the height of the bliss when I can sleep in the Monday morning.

enter image description here

updated Mar 24, 2012
posted by kat9wa
de acuerdo:) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 18, 2012
It is the height of bliss when I can sleep in on Monday morning. "sleep in" is the expression for sleeping late. Good job. - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
The sentence is well structured, buuut 'colmo' doesn't fit pretty well, you could say instead "La plenitud de la felicidad es cuando puedo dormir por la mañana de los lunes". Plenitud is synonym of "colmo". - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
That's why I like Monday holidays! Nice effort, kat9wa! - bandit51jd, Mar 19, 2012
Hi everyone:) Thank you, Katydew, I forgot about this nice expression=))) - kat9wa, Mar 19, 2012
Muchas gracias,Caefuego! Can you give the words that we should use in expressions with "colmo" y with "plenitud", please? - kat9wa, Mar 19, 2012
5
votes

El colmo de la cortesía es sonreír a una persona mientras está siendo grosera contigo.

The height of politeness is to smile at a person while he is being rude to you.

enter image description here

updated Mar 24, 2012
edited by shama807
posted by shama807
cutie!:) - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
Who could be rude to that face?! 'is to smile at a person...." - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
This kitty is getting famous! :P - cheskasullivan, Mar 18, 2012
"El colmo de la cortesía es..." - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
thanks guys for your comments and corrections. - shama807, Mar 19, 2012
5
votes

Hay muchos chistes de colmos muy divertidos, pero a mí me gusta mucho este colmo de sensatez.

There are many very amusing jokes about the height of something, but I really like this height of common sense very much.

enter image description here

updated Mar 24, 2012
posted by Castor77
Jajaja:) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 18, 2012
Very funny!:) - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
:)))) - Cordobesa, Mar 19, 2012
5
votes

Cuando estoy fluido en el español voy a llegar el colmo de feliz. ' When I am fluent in Spanish, I will reach the height of happiness.

enter image description here

updated Mar 19, 2012
posted by kdrinning
Me too! However long it takes!:) - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
"Cuando hable fluidamente el español voy a llegar al colmo de la felicidad" or "Cuando sea fluido hablando español voy a alcanzar el colmo de la felicidad". =) - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
4
votes

enter image description here Cuando era joven, pensía pensaba que los Hermanos Marx eran el colmo de la comedia. When I was young, I thought the Marx Brothers were the height of comedy.

updated Mar 24, 2012
edited by mstivers
posted by mstivers
Oh... I agree, they were too funny. Just correct a word: "Cuando era joven, pensaba que los Hermanos Marx eran el colmo de la comedia". Even though the word "colmo" doesn't fit pretty well in this sentence, instead you could use "mejor". - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
4
votes

"¡Eso es el colmo!" me digo dijo la profesora cuando olvidé mis deberes por la décima vez.

"That's the last straw!" said my teacher when I forgot my homework for the tenth time.

Bart

updated Mar 24, 2012
edited by claradelvalle
posted by claradelvalle
I love Bart Simpson:):) - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
"¡Eso es el colmo!" Me digo la profesora cuando olvidé mis deberes por décima vez. - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
I have never heard that excuse, it was always the dogs fault when I was in school! - bandit51jd, Mar 19, 2012
Typo: "dijo" ;) - Cordobesa, Mar 19, 2012
Gracias. - -cae-, Mar 19, 2012
De nada, amigo ;) - Cordobesa, Mar 19, 2012
Gracias por su ayuda, caefuego y Cordobesa. - claradelvalle, Mar 22, 2012
4
votes

Ha alcanzado el colmo de preparación. He has reached the height of preparation. enter image description here

updated Mar 24, 2012
posted by Shane457
Lol!! - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
:o) - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
omg!! I almost posted this, lol - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
It's "El colmo de la preparación". - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
4
votes

LLegar a la cima de mi profesión de alpinista no fue tan problematico como el descenso....

¡ eso es ya el colmo!

To reach the top of my profession as a mountaineer was less difficult than getting down again. It's beyond a joke!

enter image description here

updated Mar 24, 2012
edited by annierats
posted by annierats
The sentence is well structured, but the word "colmo" doesn't applies here. You need to use "cima": "Llegar a la cima de mi profesión..." - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
Free fall! - bandit51jd, Mar 19, 2012
Cracias Caefuego. I followed the example at the top of the page...Now I've learnt 'cima'. Thanks! - annierats, Mar 19, 2012
4
votes

Caefuego's corrections: Los zapatos de la última colección de Alexander McQueen fueron el colmo de la elegancia.

Katy's corrections: The shoes from the latest collection of Alexander McQueen were the height of elegance.

enter image description here

updated Mar 24, 2012
edited by Silvia_Tcherneva
posted by Silvia_Tcherneva
qué creatividad ! - shama807, Mar 18, 2012
simplemente genial!:) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 18, 2012
It is very creative!:) - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
Very fun shoes! I would break my neck wearing them and that would not be 'el colmo de elegancia'. "from the latest collection... the height of elegance." - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
Jajaja, yes in that case it would be "el colmo de la locura", isn't it?:)) Thank you for the corrections, Katy! May I ask how to saw in English : "el colmo de los colmos"? - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 18, 2012
Silvia, I'm not sure of the Spanish meaning of "el colmo de los colmos" but I think it might be in English, "the very limit" or "the ultimate", possibly something like "the height of all heights"... I don't know the nuances of the Spanish idioms yet. - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
Thank you so much, Katy! It is close to my opinion. I thought that it is something like "top of the tops", but as far as I know you don't use this phrace in English that way. Oh, I hope you understant my awlful English:) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 18, 2012
Good. - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
Just a little addition: "Los zapatos de la última colección de Alexander McQueen fueron el colmo de la elegancia". Now it's OK. - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
Silvia, your English is very good and has very few mistakes and even they are small ones. - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
Thank you so much, Katy and Caefuego! Deeply appreciate your help!:) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 19, 2012
4
votes

Era el colmo de la crueldad de la aerolínea para cargar el anciano una tarifa para llevar su botella de oxígeno en el avión. It was the height of cruelty for the airline to charge the old man a fee to carry his oxygen bottle onto the plane.

enter image description here

updated Mar 24, 2012
posted by Lector_Constante
Very good sentence!:) - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
Ryab air, I presume? - annierats, Mar 18, 2012
"El colmo de la crueldad de la aerolínea fue cargar al anciano una tarifa por llevar su tanque de oxígeno en el avión". I've never seen "botellas de oxígeno". - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
Or even better: "El colmo de la crueldad de la aerolínea fue cargar al anciano con una tarifa extra por llevar su tanque de oxígeno en el avión". - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012
Umm, caefuego, I think you are changing my meaning somewhat; also an oxygen bottle is a "tiny tank" the size of a woman's purse, not a "tank" at all ... - Lector_Constante, Mar 19, 2012
3
votes

enter image description here¿Un zapato árbol? Esto ya es....¡El colmo de la locura! A shoe tree? This really is....The height of craziness!!!

enter image description here

updated Mar 24, 2012
edited by jool
posted by jool
Jool, your picture isn't under your caption. Maybe there is a problem with Internet:) - Silvia_Tcherneva, Mar 18, 2012
I don't see it here. Maybe you should report it to feedback.:) - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
Are you going to the "full image" before copying the URL? - katydew, Mar 18, 2012
:))) - Cordobesa, Mar 19, 2012
3
votes

Cuando cocinando no usa cucharadas colmadas, pero unas niveles.

When cooking, don't use heaping tablespoons, but rather level ones.

updated Mar 24, 2012
posted by gringojrf
Do you cook Gringojrf? - rac1, Mar 18, 2012
Yes. I enjoy cooking. - gringojrf, Mar 18, 2012
"Cuando cocine no colme las cucharas, sino que úselas a ras (nivel)". Nice, it's a little daring to use the verb "colmar". =) - -cae-, Mar 18, 2012