Portuguese idioms

To come away with nothing — literally «to stay watching ships», like those who waited at the harbour for a return that never came.

English: to be left empty-handed

Chegou tarde e ficou a ver navios.He arrived late and was left empty-handed.

Yes, that’s how it is — the commonest way of agreeing in the language, and not far from a filler.

English: quite, I know

Está tudo muito caro. — Pois é.Everything’s so expensive. — I know, isn’t it.

In Portugal you hear it every few sentences. It agrees without adding anything, much as a British «quite» does.

It doesn’t matter; no harm done.

English: never mind, no worries

Cheguei atrasado. — Não faz mal.I’m late. — Never mind.

To lead to nothing — literally «to come out on no side».

English: to get nowhere

Esta discussão não vai dar a lado nenhum.This argument is getting us nowhere.

Lado nenhum is the everyday European Portuguese word for «nowhere»: a lado nenhum is where you go, em lado nenhum where you are.

To be in a foul temper — literally «to be with the olive oils».

English: to be like a bear with a sore head

Hoje está com os azeites, é melhor não perguntar.He’s like a bear with a sore head today, so better not ask.

Not to understand the slightest thing.

English: not to understand a word

Li três vezes e não percebi patavina.I read it three times and didn’t understand a word.

Patavina means «nothing at all» and occurs only in this phrase. Colloquial but harmless; in writing you would put não percebi nada. Note too that perceber is the everyday European Portuguese verb for «understand», not only for «perceive».

To be in real trouble — literally «to be made into steak».

English: to be done for

Se o chefe descobre, estamos feitos ao bife.If the boss finds out, we’re done for.

Free of worries — literally «in the shade of the banana tree».

English: without a care in the world

Ele vive à sombra da bananeira desde que herdou a casa.He’s lived without a care in the world since he inherited the house.

To attempt the impossible — the Rossio is one of Lisbon’s great squares, the Betesga a tiny street close by.

English: to fit a quart into a pint pot

Fazer isso em dois dias é meter o Rossio na Betesga.Getting that done in two days is like trying to fit a quart into a pint pot.

To take a quick look at something — literally «to make a view of eyes».

English: to cast an eye over

Faz uma vista de olhos ao contrato, se puderes.Cast an eye over the contract, if you can.

To come to nothing — literally «to go off down the water».

English: to go down the drain

Com a chuva, o plano foi por água abaixo.With the rain, the whole plan went down the drain.

English lets the plan go with the water too, only through a drain rather than downstream.

To give a secret away — literally «to knock the tongue against the teeth».

English: to let the cat out of the bag

Não contes nada, ele dá logo com a língua nos dentes.Don’t tell him anything — he’ll let the cat out of the bag straight away.

Not to care in the least — literally «to be in the paints».

English: not to give a damn

Ele está-se nas tintas para o que dizem.He doesn’t give a damn what people say.

Reflexive and followed by para: estou-me nas tintas para isso.

For no reason, aimlessly — literally «in tow», drifting wherever the rope happens to pull.

English: aimlessly

Andámos à toa pela cidade toda a tarde.We wandered aimlessly round the city all afternoon.

To have odd ideas — literally «to have little monkeys in the attic».

English: to have bats in the belfry

Quem propôs isso tem macaquinhos no sótão.Whoever suggested that has bats in the belfry.

English keeps the animals upstairs as well — in the belfry rather than the attic.

All right, agreed.

English: all right, OK

Amanhã às oito? — Está bem.Tomorrow at eight? — All right.

To embarrass yourself in public — literally «to cut a bear’s figure».

English: to make a fool of yourself

Fiz figura de urso na reunião.I made a fool of myself in the meeting.

For there to be a tremendous fuss — the Carmo and the Trindade are two Lisbon convents that came down in the earthquake of 1755.

English: all hell breaks loose

Se ele souber, cai o Carmo e a Trindade.If he finds out, all hell will break loose.

To find a small workaround — <z>jeitinho</z> is the diminutive of <z>jeito</z>, a knack or a way of doing things.

English: to sort something out somehow

Vamos dar um jeitinho para caber tudo.We’ll sort it out somehow so that everything fits.

Jeito turns up everywhere: ter jeito para is «to have a knack for», and dá jeito means «it comes in handy».

And so on — tacked on for whatever you don’t want to spell out.

English: and all that

Falámos do trabalho, da família e tal.We talked about work, family and all that.

It is obvious at first sight.

English: you can tell at once

Vê-se logo que não é daqui.You can tell at once he’s not from round here.

People are saying — literally «it is said around there».

English: word has it

Diz-se por aí que vão fechar a loja.Word has it the shop is going to close.

Perhaps, possibly.

English: maybe

Se calhar amanhã chove.Maybe it’ll rain tomorrow.

The European Portuguese way of saying «perhaps»; calhar is to happen by chance, so the phrase is roughly «if it so happens». Brazilians prefer talvez, which is understood everywhere.

Seriously, in earnest.

English: seriously

Estás a falar a sério?Are you being serious?

Estás a falar shows how European Portuguese forms the continuous: estar a plus the infinitive, where English uses «-ing».

To be amusing — literally «to have a joke».

English: to be funny

A história tem piada.It’s a funny story.

Negated it is sharper than it looks: não tem piada nenhuma means «that’s not funny at all».

To take the trouble to do something.

English: to bother

Nem se deu ao trabalho de responder.He didn’t even bother to reply.

To wait, to be expecting someone or something.

English: to be waiting for

Estou à espera do autocarro há vinte minutos.I’ve been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes.

To pitch in yourself — literally «to put your hands in the dough».

English: to roll up your sleeves

O chefe também põe as mãos na massa.The boss rolls up his sleeves as well.

To be well informed about something — literally «to be inside».

English: to be in the picture

Ele está por dentro do assunto.He’s fully in the picture.

To raise something for discussion — literally «to put on top of the table».

English: to put on the table

Vamos pôr o problema em cima da mesa.Let’s put the problem on the table.

To review where things stand before going on.

English: to take stock

Antes de continuar, façamos o ponto da situação.Before we carry on, let’s take stock.

To be entitled to a voice in a decision.

English: to have a say

Nesse ponto também temos uma palavra a dizer.We have a say on that point too.

To set to work — literally «to lay hands on the work».

English: to get down to work

Deitemos mãos à obra, temos pouco tempo.Let’s get down to work — we haven’t much time.

At the very end, at the last possible moment.

English: at the last minute

Cancelou à última da hora.He cancelled at the last minute.

Portuguese leaves it to the last hour, English to the last minute.

To spend every ounce of effort — literally «to give the litre».

English: to give it your all

Deram o litro para acabar a tempo.They gave it their all to finish on time.

To follow events closely and react quickly — literally «to be on top of the event».

English: to be on the ball

Ela está sempre em cima do acontecimento.She’s always on the ball.

To be struck speechless.

English: to be lost for words

Fiquei sem palavras quando li o relatório.I was lost for words when I read the report.

As an example; a rather formal way of introducing one.

English: by way of example

A título de exemplo, veja-se o mês de março.By way of example, take the month of March.

To concede a point without arguing it — literally «to give cheaply».

English: to grant (for the sake of argument)

Dou de barato que o prazo era curto.I grant you the deadline was tight.

To use connections to get something — literally «to put in a wedge».

English: to pull strings

Conseguiu o lugar com uma cunha.He got the job because somebody pulled strings.

To bring something to a good end — literally «to bring into a good harbour».

English: to bring to a successful conclusion

Levámos o projeto a bom porto.We brought the project to a successful conclusion.

To have a great deal to do — literally «to be full of work».

English: to be snowed under

Esta semana estou cheio de trabalho.I’m snowed under this week.

To deal with the matter.

English: to see to it

Eu trato do assunto amanhã.I’ll see to it tomorrow.

To take a matter further once it has been raised.

English: to follow up

Vamos dar seguimento ao pedido.We’ll follow up the request.

To take charge of a matter.

English: to take the matter in hand

Pegou no assunto sozinho.He took the matter in hand on his own.

Pegar em is European Portuguese for picking something up or taking hold of it.

To have plenty of work ahead.

English: to have a lot on your plate

Com este processo temos muito que fazer.With this case we’ve got a lot on our plate.

To get everything out in the open — literally «to put things on clean plates».

English: to clear the air

É melhor pôr as coisas em pratos limpos.It’s better to clear the air.

To do as well as you are able.

English: to do your best

Fiz o melhor que pude.I did my best.

To be in a bad temper.

English: to be in a bad mood

Está de mau humor desde segunda.He’s been in a bad mood since Monday.

To grow suspicious — literally «to be left with the flea behind the ear».

English: to smell a rat

Fiquei com a pulga atrás da orelha depois da conversa.After that conversation I began to smell a rat.

To be very anxious — literally «to have your heart in your hands».

English: to have your heart in your mouth

Estive com o coração nas mãos até ela telefonar.My heart was in my mouth until she rang.

English puts the heart in the mouth, Portuguese in the hands; the fear is the same.

To be a thoroughly good person — literally «to be a loaf of bread».

English: to have a heart of gold

A vizinha é um pão, ajuda toda a gente.The woman next door has a heart of gold — she helps everyone.

To have your thoughts somewhere else entirely.

English: to be miles away

Hoje tens a cabeça noutro sítio.You’re miles away today.

To lose control of your temper — literally «to lose the stirrups».

English: to fly off the handle

Perdeu as estribeiras à terceira pergunta.He flew off the handle at the third question.

To feel completely at ease — literally «to be on your seven country estates».

English: to be in your element

Com um livro e café, está nas suas sete quintas.With a book and a coffee he’s in his element.

To be jealous or envious — literally «to have a pain in the elbow».

English: to be green with envy

Isso é só dor de cotovelo.That’s just jealousy.

To have your limits like anyone else — literally «not to be made of iron».

English: to be only human

Trabalhei doze horas, não sou de ferro.I’ve worked twelve hours — I’m only human.

To be astonished — literally «to be left with your mouth open».

English: to be gobsmacked

Ficámos de boca aberta com a notícia.We were gobsmacked by the news.

To be brazen — literally «to have tin».

English: to have a nerve

Tem cá uma lata, pediu outra vez.He’s got some nerve — he’s asked again.

British English reaches for metal too: someone with a nerve has a «brass neck».

To be bursting with energy — literally «to be fully wound», like a clockwork toy.

English: to be full of beans

Hoje está com a corda toda.She’s full of beans today.

To be utterly exhausted — literally «dead of tiredness».

English: to be dead tired

Estou morto de cansaço.I’m dead tired.

To be cheerful and well rested.

English: to be in good spirits

Chegou bem disposto às oito.He turned up at eight in good spirits.

To be at peace with yourself — literally «to feel good in your own skin».

English: to be comfortable in your own skin

Desde que mudou de emprego, sente-se bem na própria pele.Since she changed jobs, she’s been comfortable in her own skin.

To be easy to get on with.

English: to be good-natured

Tem bom feitio, nunca se zanga.He’s good-natured — he never gets cross.

O feitio is a person’s nature — and also the cut of a garment.

To be annoyed with somebody.

English: to be cross with someone

Está chateado comigo desde segunda.He’s been cross with me since Monday.

Chateado covers everything from annoyed to bored; the tone decides which is meant.

Not to feel like doing something.

English: not to be in the mood

Hoje não estou para isso.I’m not in the mood today.

To wear yourself out worrying over something — literally «to wreck your head».

English: to tie yourself in knots

Não dês cabo da cabeça com isso.Don’t tie yourself in knots over it.

Shortly, in a little while.

English: in a bit

Volto daqui a pouco.I’ll be back in a bit.

Daqui a counts forward from now: daqui a dois dias is «in two days’ time».

Occasionally, not often.

English: every now and then

De vez em quando vamos ao cinema.Every now and then we go to the cinema.

Exactly when expected.

English: bang on time

Chegou a tempo e horas, como sempre.He arrived bang on time, as always.

In an instant — literally «in an opening and closing of the eyes».

English: in the blink of an eye

Estava tudo pronto num abrir e fechar de olhos.Everything was ready in the blink of an eye.

In the coming year.

English: next year

Para o ano mudamos de casa.Next year we’re moving house.

At some point, sooner or later — literally «a day more, a day less».

English: one of these days

Mais dia menos dia ele descobre.One of these days he’ll find out.

To have a run of luck — literally «to be on a tide of luck».

English: to be on a lucky streak

Esta semana estou em maré de sorte.I’m on a lucky streak this week.

Under no circumstances — literally «not even if the cow coughs».

English: not in a million years

Não volto lá nem que a vaca tussa.I’m not going back there, not in a million years.

Hurriedly, in haste.

English: in a rush

Comi à pressa e saí.I ate in a rush and left.

Never — literally «when hens have teeth».

English: when pigs fly

Isso resolve-se quando as galinhas tiverem dentes.That’ll get sorted out when pigs fly.

A textbook case of the future subjunctive after quando: where English says «when hens have» in the present, Portuguese says quando tiverem.

Punctually.

English: on time

O comboio chegou a horas.The train arrived on time.

To be late, to be behind.

English: to be running late

Estou atrasado dez minutos.I’m running ten minutes late.

Within the time allowed.

English: on schedule

Estamos dentro do prazo.We’re on schedule.

Sooner or later — literally «earlier or later».

English: sooner or later

Mais cedo ou mais tarde vai ter de dizer.Sooner or later he’ll have to say.

In the coming week.

English: next week

Falamos disso para a semana.We’ll talk about it next week.

In Portugal no próxima is needed: para a semana is enough, just like para o ano.

To cost a fortune — literally «to cost the eyes out of your face».

English: to cost an arm and a leg

Este carro custou os olhos da cara.This car cost an arm and a leg.

English pays with limbs, Portuguese with eyes.

To have no money — literally «to be stiff».

English: to be skint

Estou teso até ao fim do mês.I’m skint until the end of the month.

To save against hard times.

English: to save for a rainy day

Poupa sempre para os tempos difíceis.He always saves for a rainy day.

To be worthwhile — literally «to be worth the trouble».

English: to be worth it

O desvio é longo, mas vale a pena.The detour is long, but it’s worth it.

To waste money — literally «to throw money out of the window».

English: to throw money away

Comprar isso é deitar dinheiro pela janela.Buying that is just throwing money away.

For next to nothing.

English: for a song

Compraram a casa por tuta e meia.They bought the house for a song.

To stretch what money you have — literally «to make the money yield».

English: to make your money go further

Sabe fazer render o dinheiro como ninguém.She can make money go further than anyone.

To turn out expensive in the end.

English: to cost you dear

Aquele erro saiu-nos caro.That mistake cost us dear.

To be utterly destitute — literally «to have nowhere to drop dead».

English: not to have a penny to your name

Chegou ao país sem ter onde cair morto.He arrived in the country without a penny to his name.

To give in — literally «to offer your arm to be twisted».

English: to back down

Ao fim de uma hora, deu o braço a torcer.After an hour, he backed down.

In English you twist someone’s arm to make them give in; Portuguese tells it from the side of the one who does.

For a great deal of money — literally «at the weight of gold».

English: for a small fortune

Vendeu o apartamento a peso de ouro.He sold the flat for a small fortune.

To set money aside.

English: to put money by

Pomos dinheiro de lado para as férias.We put money by for the holidays.

To pay the whole amount at once rather than in instalments.

English: to pay up front

Prefiro pagar a pronto.I’d rather pay up front.

The opposite is pagar a prestações, paying in instalments.

For half the usual price.

English: at half price

Comprei o casaco a metade do preço.I bought the jacket at half price.

To have no money whatsoever.

English: not to have a bean

No fim do mês não tenho cheta.By the end of the month I haven’t got a bean.