The Meaning of de un plumazo

Keyword: De un plumazo

Definition:

“De un plumazo” is a Spanish idiomatic expression that translates to “with a stroke of a pen” in English. It is used to describe a situation where something is done quickly and decisively, often with little effort or deliberation, typically involving a significant impact.

Usage:

This phrase is commonly employed in both spoken and written language to indicate an action taken that results in a substantial change or effect, often implying that the action was somewhat superficial or lacked thorough consideration. For example:

• “El nuevo presidente cambió la ley de un plumazo.” (The new president changed the law with a stroke of a pen.)

Etymology:

The phrase “de un plumazo” derives from “pluma,” meaning “pen” or “feather.” The origin is rooted in the concept of writing (traditionally done with a quill or feather pen), suggesting that something can be disposed of or altered as easily as writing something down.

Pronunciation:

/de un plumˈaθo/ (in Castilian Spanish) or /de un plumˈaso/ (in Latin American Spanish)

Synonyms:

• De un soplo (with a breath)
• Sin dudar (without hesitation)
• De inmediato (immediately)

Antonyms:

• Con esfuerzo (with effort)
• Con deliberación (with deliberation)
• Gradualmente (gradually)

This idiomatic expression encapsulates the notion of making swift decisions that lead to significant outcomes, mirroring how simple changes on paper can create profound effects.

1. El chef eliminó los ingredientes innecesarios de un plumazo para simplificar la receta.
   (The chef eliminated unnecessary ingredients in one fell swoop to simplify the recipe.)

2. Con un solo clic, borró todos los archivos de un plumazo.
   (With a single click, he deleted all the files in one fell swoop.)

3. La empresa resolvió todos los problemas administrativos de un plumazo.
   (The company resolved all administrative issues in one fell swoop.)

4. Al recibir la noticia, de un plumazo cambió su vida por completo.
   (Upon hearing the news, he changed his life completely in one fell swoop.)

5. El nuevo director hizo cambios en la estructura de la empresa de un plumazo.
   (The new director made changes to the company’s structure in one fell swoop.)