Se me encendió la ampolleta

English translation: I had a lightbulb moment

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:Se me encendió la ampolleta
English translation:I had a lightbulb moment
Entered by: Abraal

17:40 Jan 20, 2019
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Idioms
Spanish term or phrase: Se me encendió la ampolleta
Literally: my bulb turned on. In Chile, it means that I finally thought of a solution to a problem, or that I've just had a great idea (similarly to cartoons, when Tom thinks of a way to catch Jerry and a bulb appears over his head). I was wondering if there is an idiom in English with the same meaning, hopefully involving a bulb. I thought of Eureka, but it's way to formal.

Thanks!
Abraal
Local time: 05:54
I had a lightbulb moment
Explanation:
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/light...
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Thank you!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7I had a lightbulb moment
philgoddard
4 +1it just came to me in a flash
David Hollywood


  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
I had a lightbulb moment


Explanation:
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/light...

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 48
Grading comment
Thank you!!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Wendy Streitparth: That's a new one on me.
3 mins

agree  neilmac: :-)
3 mins

agree  Charles Davis: Ideal! I was thinking of "flash of inspiration", but it loses the metaphor. // I have seen and heard this; it's perfectly idiomatic and very widely used, although I don't normally use it myself.
10 mins

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
7 hrs

agree  Muriel Vasconcellos
10 hrs

agree  Hugh Thomson
1 day 5 hrs

agree  Robert Carter: I'd never heard the expression before either, but it seems to be fairly well-established.
3 days 1 hr
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
it just came to me in a flash


Explanation:
we say this in English and I have never heard of any idiomatic expressions involving lightbulbs

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Note added at 8 hrs (2019-01-21 02:01:45 GMT)
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I see you have a lot of support from reputable answerers for Phil's post but I will post this nevertheless

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Note added at 8 hrs (2019-01-21 02:04:44 GMT)
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in a flash definition: 1. quickly or suddenly: 2. suddenly: . Learn more. ... Meaning of “in a flash” in the English Dictionary ... The answer came to her in a flash.

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Note added at 8 hrs (2019-01-21 02:07:49 GMT)
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keeps the idea of light and I'm still sorry to say that "lightbulbs" still haven't entered into idiomatic English as far as I know

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Note added at 8 hrs (2019-01-21 02:10:32 GMT)
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anyway you decide

David Hollywood
Local time: 05:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 72

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sophie Cherel: I like this solution, it sounds more natural. Very bright, did it come to you in a flash?
6 hrs
  -> ok and I like it too but overbowled in this case :)

neutral  philgoddard: I don't see how you can say "lightbulb moment" hasn't entered into idiomatic English when it gets 666,000 Google hits.
17 hrs
  -> had never heard of it but obviously ok Phil and np
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