caer de pies (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Expression

Phonetic Transcription

/kaˈeɾ de ˈpies/

Usage in Spanish

"Caer de pies" is an idiomatic expression in the Spanish language. It is used in both oral speech and written context, but more commonly in informal conversations.

Examples

1. Juan tuvo un problema en el trabajo, pero siempre cae de pie.
   English Translation: Juan had a problem at work, but he always lands on his feet.

2. Aunque las cosas no salieron como esperaba, logró caer de pies y salir adelante.
   English Translation: Even though things didn't go as expected, he managed to land on his feet and move forward.

Idiomatic Expressions

"Caer de pies" is part of several idiomatic expressions in Spanish. Here are some examples:

1. Caer de pie

2. Pase lo que pase, siempre cae de pie.
   English Translation: No matter what happens, they always land on their feet.

3. Caer de pie sobre algo

4. Tras la tormenta, caímos de pie sobre el terreno arrasado.
   English Translation: After the storm, we landed on our feet on the devastated land.

Etymology

The expression "caer de pies" comes from the idea of falling or experiencing difficult circumstances, but being able to recover, stand back up, or adapt quickly and effectively, similar to how a cat always lands on its feet.

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms: Recuperarse rápidamente (recover quickly), adaptarse con facilidad (adapt easily), superar obstáculos (overcome obstacles)
• Antonyms: Tropezar y caer (stumble and fall), fracasar estrepitosamente (fail miserably), no poder recuperarse (not being able to recover)