Phrase · 🧩 Everyday idioms
Estuve a punto de tirar la toalla, pero mi entrenadora me convenció de seguir.
I was about to throw in the towel, but my coach talked me into carrying on.
B2idiomsAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Estuve1verbI wasestar · past · 1st sing.a1prepositiontopunto1nounpoint (a punto de = about to)masc. · sing.de1prepositionoftirar2verbthrowinfinitivela2determinertheel · fem. · sing. · definitetoalla2nountowelfem. · sing.,peroconjunctionbutmideterminermy1st sing.entrenadoranouncoachentrenador · fem. · sing.meobject pronounmeyo · 1st sing. · direct objectconvenció3verbconvincedconvencer · past · 3rd sing.de3prepositionofseguirverbto keep goinginfinitive.
- tirar → toalla: obj
- entrenadora → convenció: agree
- convenció → me: obj
- convenció → de: prep
Word for word: “I was at the point of throwing the towel, but my coach convinced me of continuing.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1estar a punto de + infinitive = to be about to. Verbal periphrases II: soler, dejar de, ponerse a, estar a punto de, seguir and llevar + gerund →
- 2tirar la toalla = to give up. Tirar means to throw.
- 3convencer de + infinitive = to persuade someone to do something. Verbs with prepositions →
Variations
- Estuve a punto de tirar la toalla, pero mi entrenador me convenció de seguir.