Example: El jefe decidió dar la puntilla al proyecto atrasado hoy.
Definition
"Dar la puntilla" is a Spanish expression meaning to deliver the final blow or decisive action that finishes or ends something, often used in situations where a project, plan, or effort is concluded definitively and usually after some delay or difficulty.
Translations
to deliver the final blow
de genadeklap geven
donar el cop final
porter le coup de grâce
den Todesstoß versetzen
Etymology
The phrase "dar la puntilla" literally means 'to give the small point or stitch.' It likely originates from the idea of making a final small cut or stitch to finish a piece of work or to kill an animal by delivering a precise, fatal blow. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to mean delivering the concluding action that decisively ends a matter.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Dar la puntilla" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (C2) - parte 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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to deliver the final blow