spent thread

[/spɛnt θrɛd/]
nounpl: spent threads
linha gasta / linha consumida
1. A thread that has been completely used up or exhausted during sewing, embroidery, or other textile work and is no longer usable
After finishing the embroidery project, she discarded the spent thread.
Após terminar o projeto de bordado, ela descartou a linha gasta.
2. In weaving or textile manufacturing, thread that has reached the end of its bobbin or spool and requires replacement
The loom operator changed out the spent thread and loaded a new bobbin.
O operador do tear trocou a linha consumida e carregou uma nova bobina.
3. A metaphorical term for something that is exhausted, depleted, or no longer useful
By the end of the project, his enthusiasm was a spent thread.
No final do projeto, seu entusiasmo era uma linha gasta.
In Brazilian crafting and textile communities, this term is commonly used in sewing circles (rodas de costura) and is understood both literally in quilting and embroidery contexts and metaphorically in everyday speech to describe something that has been completely used up or is no longer viable.
NYC Slang
played-out thread (colloquial)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
exhausted threaddepleted threadused-up threadempty bobbin
Antonyms / Antônimos
fresh threadnew threadunused threadfull bobbin

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
linha gasta / linha consumida
Most common term used in textile industries and crafting communities
Rio de Janeiro
linha gasta
Colloquial usage in local crafting circles
São Paulo
linha consumida
More technical term used in industrial textile manufacturing
Portugal
fio gasto / fio esgotado
Portuguese variant using 'fio' instead of 'linha'

Related Words

bobbinspoolembroiderytextileweavingneedle and thread

Related Idioms & Phrases

at the end of one's thread (exhausted or near the end)
hang by a thread (precarious situation)
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