Example: Es importante poner los pies en la tierra antes de decidir.
Definition
"Poner los pies en la tierra" means to become realistic or practical, especially after having unrealistic expectations or dreams. It emphasizes the importance of facing facts and making sensible decisions based on reality, as in the example: 'Es importante poner los pies en la tierra antes de decidir.'
Translations
to be realistic
met beide benen op de grond staan
tocar de peus a terra
garder les pieds sur terre
auf dem Boden bleiben
Etymology
The phrase "poner los pies en la tierra" literally translates to 'putting one's feet on the ground,' symbolizing grounding oneself in reality. It likely originates from the idea that being physically grounded represents being mentally and emotionally stable and practical. Did you know that this expression is used commonly in Spanish-speaking cultures to remind someone to be realistic?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Poner los pies en la tierra" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (C1) - parte 1", containing 120 commonly used expressions.
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to be realistic