Llevarse el gato al agua. Do you know what it means?

Question

Llevarse el gato al agua is a very common Spanish phrase. Can you guess what it means and share it with the forum?

Here's an example of usage:

A pesar de que le costó muchísimo casarse con ella, Juan finalmente pudo llevarse el gato al agua.

I would like to know who was talented enough to be able to put a swim suit on the cat! - 0095ca4c, Dec 10, 2012

I'm guessing it's a photoshop whizz ;) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 10, 2012

Answer 1

I came across the expression this very weekend. It refers to success in an enterprise that is almost impossibly difficult. For anyone who knows anything about cats it certainly makes sense. So : succeed in doing something that is generally regarded as being almost impossible .

Very nice! - francobollo, Dec 9, 2012

Yeah it reminds of the English expression You can lead a horse to water, but you can´t make it drink. - BellaMargarita, Dec 9, 2012

¡Felicidades! - --Mariana--, Dec 10, 2012

Thanks!:-) - Castor77, Dec 10, 2012

Answer 2

It means: At last you can afford all the protective clothing and insurance fees necessary before trying to give the cat a bath...And plasters and iodine..

Actually, I think it means ; To take the bull by the horns.

Nope. But you made me laugh. - francobollo, Dec 9, 2012

Good, that was el intento. I have no idea of the exact meaning, whilst understanding the general trend. g - annierats, Dec 9, 2012

First SD smile of the morning. - katydew, Dec 10, 2012

Answer 3

To have success at a difficult task. Accomplish something difficult.

:-) - francobollo, Dec 9, 2012

Answer 4

It is the equivalent of to pull something off. like gringo said to be sucessful at something diffcult.

:-) - francobollo, Dec 9, 2012

Answer 5

Bite the bullet...that is, 'knuckle down' and do something unpleasant that has to be done?

Close. But I think it has a more precise meaning. - francobollo, Dec 9, 2012

Make the bull bite the bullet! - annierats, Dec 9, 2012

Answer 6

Probably it means" to lift the spirits up and get going"

Nope. Nice try, though. - francobollo, Dec 17, 2012

Answer 7

I have to either study more or practice being more intuitive...my first thought was "if all else fails, kill the cat" (because you would have to kill him before he would go in the water).

You just have to practice more, whilst wearing the latest protective gear. - annierats, Dec 10, 2012

That is so clever, Margherite! - francobollo, Dec 17, 2012

Answer 8

Juan finalmente pudo llevarse el gato al agua.

Juan finally stop dragging his feet.

Clever, but not exactly. - francobollo, Dec 10, 2012

Answer 9

Before I saw the context, I was feeling so good that I could translate it literally. To take the cat yourself to the water.... figuretively "Deal with it!" "Faceup to it"

Along those lines, but not quite. - francobollo, Dec 10, 2012

Answer 10

I'm not sure what it means but it looks like it could be fatal.

I think it means: If you have a hard task to accomplish, nobody will do it for you, you just have to take the plunge and accept the consequences and the glory for what happens.

Nice interpretation. - francobollo, Dec 10, 2012

Answer 11

Was able to put his fears to rest??

So to put aside your worries or put your fears to rest.

Pure guess - fingers crossed (¿Dedos cruzados?)

Lo siento. Pero no es. - francobollo, Dec 9, 2012