keh-DAR en el teen-TEH-roh
Literally, this means 'to remain in the inkwell'.
In practice, it means an idea, question, or task was forgotten or left out.
Tenía muchas preguntas, pero con la prisa, se quedaron en el tintero.
B2I had many questions, but in the rush, they were left unasked.
Es una buena idea, pero por falta de presupuesto, el proyecto se quedó en el tintero.
C1It's a good idea, but due to a lack of budget, the project fell by the wayside.
Quería contarte un chisme, pero se me quedó en el tintero y ahora no me acuerdo.
B2I wanted to tell you a piece of gossip, but it slipped my mind and now I can't remember.
This expression comes from the time when writing was done with a quill and an inkwell ('tintero'). If a writer forgot to include a thought, a detail, or a sentence, that idea literally 'remained in the inkwell' instead of making it onto the paper. It’s a beautiful, old-fashioned image for a forgotten idea or an unspoken word.
Use this idiom for abstract things like comments, questions, ideas, or even entire projects that were planned but never executed. It's perfect for meeting wrap-ups or when you realize you forgot to mention something.
The phrase often uses 'quedarse' (the reflexive form). This gives the sense that the thing was left behind on its own, as if by accident. For example, 'La pregunta se quedó en el tintero' (The question was forgotten/left unasked).
Mistake: “Using it to say you left a physical object somewhere, like 'Dejé mis llaves en el tintero.'”
Correction: This idiom is for non-physical things: ideas, words, plans. For physical objects, use a simple verb like 'dejar' or 'olvidar' (e.g., 'Olvidé mis llaves' - I forgot my keys).
Very common and widely understood in both formal and informal settings.
Well-understood across most of Latin America, especially in more formal or literary contexts. It's a classic expression that educated speakers will recognize.
Question 1 of 1
If your boss says, 'Hay un tema importante que se quedó en el tintero,' what does he mean?
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Yes, absolutely! They are very similar. 'Dejar en el tintero' can imply that someone actively or intentionally left something out. 'Quedarse en el tintero' is more passive, suggesting it was forgotten by accident. In many contexts, they are used interchangeably.