Inklingo

Quedar en el tintero

/keh-DAR en el teen-TEH-roh/

To be left unsaid, undone, or forgotten, often unintentionally.

Level:B2Register:NeutralCommon:★★★☆☆

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:
"To remain in the inkwell"
What It Really Means:
To be left unsaid, undone, or forgotten, often unintentionally.
English Equivalents:
To fall by the waysideTo be left on the back burnerTo be overlookedTo leave something unsaid

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal
A literal depiction of 'quedar en el tintero', showing a small, rolled-up letter left behind inside an old-fashioned inkwell.

Literally, this means 'to remain in the inkwell'.

✨ Figurative
The figurative meaning of 'quedar en el tintero', showing a person in a meeting who looks like they forgot to say something important.

In practice, it means an idea, question, or task was forgotten or left out.

Key Words in This Idiom:

quedar
quedar
to remain
→
tintero

📝 In Action

Tenía muchas preguntas, pero con la prisa, se quedaron en el tintero.

B2

I 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.

C1

It'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.

B2

I wanted to tell you a piece of gossip, but it slipped my mind and now I can't remember.

📜 Origin Story

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.

⭐ Usage Tips

For Ideas, Topics, and Tasks

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.

Use 'Quedarse' for Accidents

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).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Not for Physical Objects

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).

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Very common and widely understood in both formal and informal settings.

🌎

Latin America

Well-understood across most of Latin America, especially in more formal or literary contexts. It's a classic expression that educated speakers will recognize.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️ Similar Meanings

pasar por alto

To overlook or to miss something.

dejar algo para después

To leave something for later.

⇆ Opposite Meanings

sacar a relucir

To bring something to light; to bring up a topic.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Quedar en el tintero

Question 1 of 1

If your boss says, 'Hay un tema importante que se quedó en el tintero,' what does he mean?

🏷️ Tags

Work & BusinessCommonly UsedProblems

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'dejar en el tintero' instead of 'quedar(se) en el tintero'?

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.