Adjective
/ta.iˈma.ðo/
The term "taimado" refers to someone who is sly, cunning, or crafty. It is often used to describe individuals who are deceitful or who employ cleverness to achieve their goals, sometimes with a negative connotation. The word is relatively formal and is more likely to appear in written contexts than in casual spoken language, although it is still understood and used in everyday conversation.
Él es muy taimado y siempre encuentra la forma de salir con la suya.
(He is very cunning and always finds a way to get his way.)
No se dejen engañar por su apariencia; es un taimado que busca aprovecharse de los demás.
(Don’t be fooled by his appearance; he is a sly one looking to take advantage of others.)
La estrategia que utilizó fue taimada, pero efectiva.
(The strategy he used was crafty, but effective.)
The word "taimado" can be part of several idiomatic expressions in colloquial language, specifically in contexts where cleverness and deceit are discussed. Here are a few sentences focusing on idiomatic expressions and their usage:
Con un plan tão taimado, seguro que te llevarás el gato al agua.
(With such a cunning plan, you surely will get the better of the situation.)
Ten cuidado, que hay personas taimadas que solo buscan su propio beneficio.
(Be careful, as there are sly people who only seek their own benefit.)
Es una jugada taimada ir a menospreciar a tu rival.
(It's a cunning move to belittle your rival.)
Pueden parecer ingenuos, pero hay un carácter taimado en cada uno de ellos.
(They may seem naive, but there is a sly character in each of them.)
Fingir amistad para obtener información es un truco taimado.
(Feigning friendship to obtain information is a crafty trick.)
The word "taimado" comes from the verb "taimar," which derives from the Spanish term "tima," meaning "to deceive" or "to trick." Its roots are connected to the idea of cleverness in manipulation and cunning.
Synonyms: - Astuto - Ingenioso - Mañoso
Antonyms: - Honesto - Sincero - Ingenuo
In summary, "taimado" is a versatile word used to describe cunning behavior in Spanish, prevalent in both literature and conversation, and it carries significant cultural nuance across various Spanish-speaking regions, including Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador.