Dar de sí

Question

My Collins dictionary lists the above expression as 'to go a long way? ie (comida, bebida). I recently received this expression "no puede dar más de sí") which I understand to mean 'it's all he/she has to offer" or "he/she can't do any more", ie no more capacity. Does 'dar de sí? extend to other uses.

Answer 1

samdie said:

To restate it as an aphorism: "The more you know, the more you know that you don't know."

Solo sé que no sé nada - Sócrates.

Pero yo no sé tanto como Sócrates, así que me da coraje saber que he cometido un error estúpido que no cometería de haber tenido cuidado. En cualquier caso, las preguntas que más me hacen sentirme como un ignorante son aquellas que formulan aquellos que parecen hablar mi idioma tan bien como yo.

Answer 2

Very true, sam.

Answer 3

On a slightly more serious note, I have often noticed (and I would be tempted to offer it as a general "rule of thumb"), it is the people who _best_ know a language that are the readiest to admit to their own errors/limitations. Conversely the people with the poorest language skills seem to be the ones who are most easily offended by any suggestion that they might have made a mistake. To restate it as an aphorism: "The more you know, the more you know that you don't know."

Answer 4

Heidita said:

Natasha said:

Eddy said:

Hi NatashaYou have exactly copied Lazarus's examples but I think Probrecito should have been Pobrecito. Your translations look pretty good to me.

I didn't know Lazarus could make a Spanish mistake. I blame him.

let's please all remember this crucial discovery : lazarus is human after all!

Blasphemy, Blasphemy, go and wash your mouth out with soap and water.

Answer 5

Eddy said:

lazarus1907 said:

Please do not check your typing before posting. When errors occur, it gives the rest of us hope.hehehe

I think he has been taking typing lessons from heidita.hehehe

Eddy, beign naughty again!

Answer 6

Natasha said:

Eddy said:

Hi NatashaYou have exactly copied Lazarus's examples but I think Probrecito should have been Pobrecito. Your translations look pretty good to me.

I didn't know Lazarus could make a Spanish mistake. I blame him.

let's please all remember this crucial discovery : lazarus is human after all!

Answer 7

lazarus1907 said:

Apologies for the mistakes. Obviously I wanted to write:? Los zapatos nuevos aprietaN, pero luego dan de sí (=se estiran)? El pObrecito hace lo que puede, pero ya no da más de sí (=no es capaz de hacerlo mejor)(Why do I not check what I've written before submitting my posts')

Please do not check your typing before posting. When errors occur, it gives the rest of us hope.hehehe

Answer 8

Apologies for the mistakes. Obviously I wanted to write:

? Los zapatos nuevos aprietaN, pero luego dan de sí (=se estiran)
? El pObrecito hace lo que puede, pero ya no da más de sí (=no es capaz de hacerlo mejor)

(Why do I not check what I've written before submitting my posts')

Answer 9

From the examples given,I would say in English:
"Can't do/can't give any more"
Can't being the shortened version of "cannot/can not"
Except in the case of the car,where you might say "It's had it/It's knackered",although the last example is very bad (English) slang and you shouldn't really use it!
Very interesting Spanish phrase,I learn something new on here every day!

Answer 10

Natasha said:

Eddy said:

Hi NatashaYou have exactly copied Lazarus's examples but I think Probrecito should have been Pobrecito. Your translations look pretty good to me.

I didn't know Lazarus could make a Spanish mistake. I blame him.

I think he has been taking typing lessons from heidita.hehehe

Answer 11

Eddy said:

Hi NatashaYou have exactly copied Lazarus's examples but I think Probrecito should have been Pobrecito. Your translations look pretty good to me.

I didn't know Lazarus could make a Spanish mistake. I blame him.

Answer 12

Ya no dan más de sí: al principio era un grupo muy original, pero ahora todas las canciones se parecen. (=no son capaces de innovar o de mejorar)
They are no good any more: at first they were a very original group, but now all their songs sound alike
(they have given all they could)

The rest was perfect.

Answer 13

Natasha said:

These are very interesting examples. Please tell me if I have translated them correctly.Estirarse / To stretch? Los zapatos nuevos aprieta, pero luego dan de sí (=se estiran)New shoes pinch, but then they stretch out.? Si sigues estirando la camisa, va a dar de sí y la vas a estropear. (Nota: España solo)If you keep stretching that shirt, it's going to give way and be ruined.Producir resultados o ser capaz de conseguir algo / To produce results or be capable of accomplishing something? El probrecito hace lo que puede, pero ya no da más de sí (=no es capaz de hacerlo mejor)The poor little guy does what he can, but he just can't do any better. (Thanks, Heidita!)? El coche está muy viejo y no da más de sí (=ya no funciona como cuando estaba nuevo)The car is very old and that's the best it will run.? No intentes usar muchos programas a la vez, que el procesador es muy antiguo y no da más de sí (=no es capaz de procesar tan rápido)Don't try to use so many programs at once, because the CPU is very old and can't handle it.? Ya no dan más de sí: al principio era un grupo muy original, pero ahora todas las canciones se parecen. (=no son capaces de innovar o de mejorar)They don't do much anymore: at first they were a very original group, but now all their songs sound alike.? El equipo puede dar mucho de sí (=pueden jugar muy bien, llegar a campeones, etc.)The team has a lot to give.

Hi Natasha
You have exactly copied Lazarus's examples but I think Probrecito should have been Pobrecito. Your translations look pretty good to me.

Answer 14

These are very interesting examples. Please tell me if I have translated them correctly.

Estirarse / To stretch

? Los zapatos nuevos aprieta, pero luego dan de sí (=se estiran)
New shoes pinch, but then they stretch out.
? Si sigues estirando la camisa, va a dar de sí y la vas a estropear. (Nota: España solo)
If you keep stretching that shirt, it's going to give way and be ruined.

Producir resultados o ser capaz de conseguir algo / To produce results or be capable of accomplishing something

? El probrecito hace lo que puede, pero ya no da más de sí (=no es capaz de hacerlo mejor)
The poor little guy does what he can, but he just can't do any better. (Thanks, Heidita!)
? El coche está muy viejo y no da más de sí (=ya no funciona como cuando estaba nuevo)
The car is very old and that's the best it will run.
? No intentes usar muchos programas a la vez, que el procesador es muy antiguo y no da más de sí (=no es capaz de procesar tan rápido)
Don't try to use so many programs at once, because the CPU is very old and can't handle it.
? Ya no dan más de sí: al principio era un grupo muy original, pero ahora todas las canciones se parecen. (=no son capaces de innovar o de mejorar)
They don't do much anymore: at first they were a very original group, but now all their songs sound alike.
? El equipo puede dar mucho de sí (=pueden jugar muy bien, llegar a campeones, etc.)
The team has a lot to give.

Answer 15