Brazilian Idioms

when there is something wrong... quando alguma coisa está errada...

2009-04-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

O que há contigo? - What's the matter with you?
De que você está reclamando?! - What are you complaining about?!
O que é que você quer dizer com isso?! - What do you mean (by that)?!
Qual é a lógica? - What's the point?
Isso não faz (nenhum) sentido! - It doesn't make (any) sense!
Tenha santa paciência! / Brincadeira! / Pode parar! / Dá um tempo! - Give me a break!
Seja objetivo. - Get to the point.
Não se meta nisso. - Stay out of it.
Não me incomoda! - Don't bother me!
Me deixa fora disso. - Leave me out of this.
Me deixa em paz! - Leave me alone.
Deixe-me ir. - Let me go.
Solta! - Let go!

Cada macaco no seu galho...

2009-03-20T22:56:00.000-07:00

You shouldn’t always take the words in Portuguese ‘ao pé da letra’ – which means ‘literally, by the book’.

The expression " cada macaco no seu galho" means that everyone should care for their own job.

If you translate by book, you can read something like " each monkey in your branch" which it was a BIG mistake, a meaningless expression in english.

Caiu a ficha or the penny has dropped.

2009-01-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

If “the penny has dropped” (british idiom) has a similar in Brazil which is called "caiu a ficha". Both mean when someone has finally realised the situation they are in after possibly being unaware of it for a long time, depending on the situation.

This idiom comes from UK, specially the phrase dates back to the popular penny-slot arcades. The penny would often stick halfway down the slot and the user would then have to either wait, or give the machine a thump before the ‘penny finally dropped’ and they could begin playing.

Águas passadas não movem moinhos.

2008-10-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

"Past waters don't power mills."

Mills are usually located and powered by rivers.

The water that has passed the mill will not make it work again.

"Águas passadas não movem moinhos" is a brazilian idiom very used when you wanna talk to someone to forget past situation which hurts him/her.

So this means that you SHOULD NOT worry about things of the past.

"Wash the horse" or better, "Lavar a égua"

2008-09-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

This expressions means "to do well," "to have success," or to "enjoy oneself." It originated in Minas Gerais during the gold boom, when horses and donkeys were used to haul the gold out of the mines. The gold dust would get all over the horse, so the miners would "wash" the horse off to get the gold when they left the mine.

"Égua" is a female horse.

Example: Hoje irei a três festas. (I'm going to 3 parties. )
Vou lavar à égua. (I'll enjoy a lot.)

Cadê

2008-08-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Cadê?

Cadê is probably one of those most useful and most entertaining words to learn in Portuguese, because of its straightforward usage and easy pronunciation.

It means "where is..." followed by the object. This can be an actual object or a person.

This is a Brazilian expression that emerged from a language evolution from "o que é de..." to "quedê?" to "cadê?"

Quedê is still used in some parts of Brazil, but you will most frequently hear cadê.

Cadê meu livro? Where's my book?

Cadê o seu casaco? Where's your coat?

Cadê a sua mãe? Where's your mom?

Cadê você? Where are you?

We can also use cadê alone to mean, "Where is it?"

We use this if we haven't understood where the object is, or if we still can't find the object.

O livro está lá embaixo da mesa. The book is under the table.

Cadê? Where/Where is it?When referring to a person, though, we can also use the expression onde estar. Estar is the temporary state of to be, and is the standard grammatical form of the question, especially when referring to people.

Onde você está? Where are you?

Estou chegando! I'm almost there!

Onde estão as meninas? Where are the girls?

Estão no quintal. They're in the backyard.

2008-08-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

Se liga [see lee-gah]

This expression is difficult to translate literally, since it would be "turn yourself on!" Ligar means to turn on, like a computer or a light.

When used in this way, it means "listen up," "listen" or "pay attention."

It is a slang expression, most commonly used by young people.

Example . Se liga. Vem me buscar às seis, tá bom?

Listen up. Come get me at six, ok?

2008-07-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

Como assim???

If you don't understand the question, or you'd like the person to clarify, you say "Como assim?"

It most closely translates to "What do you mean?

examples: 1 "Você está triste comigo? Are you upset with me?

Como assim? What do you mean?

2 Você ficou sozinha? Were you there alone?

Como assim? What do you mean?

You can also use this phrase when a person makes a statement that seems impossible.

example: 1 Estou aqui perdido na mata! I'm lost in the forest!

Como assim, está perdido na mata? What do you mean, you're lost in the forest?!

2 Perdi o vôo. I missed my flight.

Como assim, perdeu o vôo? What do you mean you missed it?

2008-07-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

Meditation

2008-07-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

Espera ai [ess-pehr-ah ah-ee]

This expression means "wait a second" or "hold on."

In spoken Portuguese, though, it often becomes "peraí."

-------- Peraí. Esqueci meu casaco.
--------Wait a sec. I forgot my coat.

--------Espera ai. Já volto.

--------Hold on. I'll be right back.

Tô numa boa!

2008-07-22T06:37:00.000-07:00

Ever try to say 'I'm just chilling' or 'laid-back' in Portuguese?

Here's a quick list of terms:

Relaxa!! : relaxed, chill, 'all-good' (pronounced 'hee-lax')
Tranqüilooo: mellow, tranquil (pronounced 'trahn-kwee-loh')
Tá de boa? : "You chilling brother?"

It's interesting that the common greetings in Portuguese tudo bom / tudo bem already literally mean 'it's all good.' This literal translation when used in English implies tranquility and mellowness.