To strain something, or to slip through a small gap
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
colander
bowl with holes for draining food
+
-ar
verb suffix
Colar means to strain and is related to the English word colander0, the bowl you strain pasta through.
colar
to strain, to filter
When you pour something through a strainer or filter so the liquid passes and the solids stay behind.
Cuela la pasta y guarda un poco del aguaStrain the pasta and save a little of the water
Hay que colar el jugo para quitarle las semillasYou have to filter the juice to get the seeds out
to brew, to make (coffee, Caribbean)
When you make coffee by pouring hot water through grounds in a cloth or paper filter. You're straining the coffee.
Mi abuela cuela el café todas las mañanasMy grandmother brews coffee every morning
¿Cuelo más café?Should I make more coffee?
to fly, to work (of a lie, informal)
When a lie or excuse gets past someone without being caught. It makes it through their filter.
Esa excusa no va a colarThat excuse isn't going to fly
Dile que ya terminaste, a ver si cuelaTell her you already finished and see if it works
colarse
to sneak in, to crash
When you get into a place without permission or without paying. You slip yourself through a gap nobody is watching.
Nos colamos en el concierto por una puerta lateralWe snuck into the concert through a side door
Unos desconocidos se colaron en la fiestaSome strangers crashed the party
to cut (in line)
When you cut in line, you slip yourself into a gap between the people waiting.
Ese señor se coló en la fila del bancoThat man cut in line at the bank
¡Oye, no te cueles!Hey, don't cut!
to get in, to seep in
When something shapeless passes itself through a small gap, like light through a crack in a door.
La luz se cuela por las persianasLight gets in through the blinds
El agua se coló por una grieta del techoWater seeped in through a crack in the roof