Verb conjugation

cortar un cabello en el aire

to be smart; to be shrewd; to be bright as a button/smart as a whip; to be a sly fox

Usage

A vivid regional idiom (Latin America) meaning someone is extremely sharp, quick-witted, or shrewd — literally "to cut a hair out of the air," implying near-impossible precision and cleverness.

Examples

Ese abogado corta un cabello en el aire, nada se le escapa. — That lawyer is razor-sharp, nothing gets past him.
Mi abuela cortaba un cabello en el aire para los negocios. — My grandmother was incredibly shrewd when it came to business.
Dicen que ella corta un cabello en el aire, siempre encuentra la solución. — They say she's sharp as a tack, she always finds the solution.

Common mistake

This is a fixed idiomatic phrase, not meant literally — used only to praise someone's cleverness or shrewdness, never about actual cutting.

Simple tenses

Imperative (imperativo)

tú	-
nosotros	-
vosotros	-

Want to practice? Try a conjugation exercise.

Frequently asked questions

What does "cortar un cabello en el aire" mean?

"cortar un cabello en el aire" means "to be smart; to be shrewd; to be bright as a button/smart as a whip; to be a sly fox".

What is the Imperative (imperativo) of "cortar un cabello en el aire"?

The imperative (imperativo) of "cortar un cabello en el aire" is: tú -, nosotros -, vosotros -.

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