dar pie a
verbCEFR B2
What does “dar pie a” mean in English?
to give grounds for, to provide a basis for
to give grounds for, to provide a basis for (the first thing justified or enabled the second; implies opportunistic use)
Example sentences
Sus declaraciones ambiguas dieron pie a una cadena de rumores que tardó semanas en desmentirse.
His ambiguous statements gave rise to a chain of rumours that took weeks to refute.
No quiero dar pie a interpretaciones erróneas, así que seré muy preciso en mis palabras.
I don't want to give grounds for misinterpretations, so I'll be very precise in my words.
El vacío legal dio pie a que varias empresas actuaran de forma cuestionable.
The legal vacuum gave grounds for several companies to act in a questionable manner.
How to use it
Dar pie a means 'to give grounds for', 'to provide a basis for', 'to open the door to'. It implies that something provided the justification or pretext for what followed. Construction: dar pie a + noun (dar pie a especulaciones, dar pie a interpretaciones). The nuance compared with dar lugar a: dar pie a implies that the second thing used the first as a springboard, sometimes without full authorization. Often used in media and political contexts.
Common mistake
Dar pie a vs dar lugar a: dar pie a often implies the second party exploited the first thing as a justification; dar lugar a is more neutral causality. Both take noun objects. With que + clause, both take subjunctive. Note: the contraction al (a + el) is common: 'dar pie al escándalo'.