dar cuerda

Spanish

Etymology

Literally, “to give rope”.

Verb

dar cuerda (first-person singular present doy cuerda, first-person singular preterite di cuerda, past participle dado cuerda)

1. (transitive, idiomatic) to wind up (a toy, clock etc.)
2. (transitive, idiomatic) to get started

Further reading

• “dar cuerda a alguien”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014