100 Portuguese Idioms! #Part1

Portuguese is a language, that although not spoken much by others in Europe itself (but being the 6th most spoken language in the world), is very historically and culturally rich, and is definitely worth learning during your Erasmus period! The grammar is quite difficult to master, but the initial effort is well worth the endeavour. Speaking and understanding is the first step and it should be quite easy to learn for anyone whose mother tongue is another Latin based language (Namely: Castilian -known as Spanish-, French, Italian and Romanian).

The good news are that Portuguese people tend to be very nice and are extremely happy if anyone wishes to learn their language.

Using the local language helps socialisation and daily interactions - I'm currently doing Erasmus in Milan and I do my best to always use Italian when speaking, and I continue to study it in order to perfect it.

Since Portuguese is spoken in 10 countries and territories worldwide (Brazil being the one with the most speakers, and Macau, in China, the most peculiarly interesting) there are numerous variations of the language and of its' expressions, some more broad than others. This list focuses mainly in the expressions of its' country of origin, Portugal, mas these are obviously also used in other places.

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Portuguese is also a very fun language and full of Idioms that are sometimes quite difficult to understand: here is a list of the best.

1 - "Meter o Rossio na Betesga" - "To shove the Rossio in the Betesga";

This is a typical idiom from Lisbon. The Betesga is the shortest street in the city (with just 10 metres) and the Rossio is a big Square. It is used when one means that a place is too small for the amount of objects or people one wishes to place inside of it, for example.

Similar to: To put a quart into a pint pot.

2 - "Torcer o nariz" - "To tweak one's nose";

This idiom is generally accompanied by the gesture it mentions. It means someone doesn't agree with an idea or that it is known straight away that this person is not too open to it.

Similar to: Something being out of the question.

3 - "No tempo da outra senhora"; / "No tempo da Maria Cachucha"; - "In the other lady's epoch"; / "In Maria Cachucha's time";

Both mean things that are very old, so old that one can no longer correctly pinpoint when they were created or when they happened. A similar expression that may also be used is "Mais velho que a Sé de Braga" - "Older than the Cathedral of Braga" (with the beginning of it's construction in the 9th Century).

Cachucha is a Spanish dance that was created in the 1800s. It is a solo dance with castanets that begins slowly and steadily speeds up, ending in lively flip. Maria Cachucha was the nickname of Maria Purificação da Silva, born in the beginning of the 1900's, a moustached woman who worked as a bullfighter in Torres Vedras, Lisbon. She was the only woman in Portugal working as such, and gained much admiration for her dexterity, being described as "Strong as bull, moustached, with a cigarette on her lips, a headscarf on her head and dressed as a woman would". - Original Portuguese Language Source: Toluna

Similar to: To be as old as the hills.

4 - "Diz o roto ao nú! "; - "The shabby says to the naked";

Based on a Children's tale, it expresses the lack of morality of the accuser when compared to the accused. If someone critiques someone else but their behaviour is also lacking, this idiom is used to make them realise their lack of morals.

Similar to: The pot calling the kettle black.

5 - "Chover a potes"; - "Raining jugs (buckets)";

This one means it is literally raining a lot. As if jugs full of water were being emptied on us, usually during periods of heavy rain. It is only used when the rain levels are quite critical.

Similar to: It's raining cats and dogs.

6 - "Nunca mais é Sábado"; - "It's never Saturday again";

This one is for impatient people! Generally used when something is taking too long to happen, or when one is bored and wishes time would move faster.

Similar to: Take forever (for something to happen).

7 - "Tirar o cavalinho da chuva"; - "Remove the little horse from the rain";

Probably of Brazilian origin. In the nineteenth century, when a visit was brief, their horse was left outside the host's house, but if they were to stay, the animal was then taken under a cover. The visitor could only bring their horse in if the host deemed them interesting enough to spend the night, saying "you make remove your horse from the rain". After this, the expression began to mean giving up on something (giving up on leaving for the night). - Original Portuguese Language Source: Significados BR

Nowadays it's used ironically. It's used when a person is already quite excited with the prospect of something, but someone will ultimately shut their idea down. For example, if a someone books a restaurant for a romantic dinner, yet their date isn't interested at all, one may use this expression. It's also used regularly with children when they wish to do something they are too young to do, or something senseless.

Similar to: Don't hold your breath.

8 - "Ficar a ver navios"; - "To stay watching the ships";

When one waits for something to happen for a long time, or with much yearning, and it never happens. It expresses a passive action, as if instead of getting on the ship, the person was left behind, watching the ships leave.

Similar to: Stay high and dry.

9 - "É a banha da cobra"; - "It's snake fat (oil)";

It means something is a lie, false, or fraudulent. Snake oil was once a much sold and sought out item in Portugal's fairs and marketplaces, because it was said to heal a series of health conditions, although it never had any kind of medical approval. It's usually meant for something someone is vehemently trying to sell off as true, be it an idea or an actual object.

Similar to:Lead down the garden path.

10 - "Coisas do arco da velha! "; - "Things from the old (alliance) arch! ";

It is known that around the 19th century, the expression "from the old arch" was meant to describe the rainbow, something not so common nowadays. One of the explanations behind this expression is thanks to the biblical story of Noah, that after the flood, God created the rainbow as a sign of His alliance with humanity, and that there would not be another such flood ever again. Thus, in the expression "things from the old arch", the therm arch represents the old alliance that God formed with humanity. The rainbow is also known as the arch of alliance.

An alternative explanation for the origin of this expression is that originally it could have been "old lady's box" and not "old alliance arch" (one Portuguese word for box is "arca", which is very similar to "arco" which means arc). This because older ladies have the habit of keeping incredible and amazing things inside their boxes for safekeeping. - Original Portuguese Language Source: Significados BR

It's usually used when told of a situation that seems senseless or absurd, and shows lack of reasoning from the person who spoke. It can also be used in an unlikely situation, or when something fantastic or amazing happens.

Similar to: I'll be damned!

11- "À grande e à francesa"; - "Big and French"; - "Things from the old (alliance) arch! ";

It's used when someone wants to do something while showing off. It also is used to express distaste for someone who likes to show off how much money they have, especially when they have gotten rich in a fast, easy way.

Similar to: Being a show off.

12 - "Nariz empinado! " - "Upturned Nose! ";

This expression might be accompanied by a gesture (touching one's nose several times with their pointing finger). It's used to talk about people who are always convinced they are right about something and want their ideas to be accepted over others', not caring if they are better or more reasonable.

13 - "Quem tem boca vai a Roma! "; - "Whoever has a mouth goes to Rome! ";

It's a very funny expression, that also shows a lot of the Portuguese spirit. Now a days we have internet in our smartphones, which allows us not to have to ask the locals for directions in case we get lost. This expression means that a talkative person, brave enough to ask for the information they need, will be more successful than a shy, introvert one.

It's used when someone is in trouble and they ask if a favour could be done for them. It's a good way to show them that they need to be more active in solving their own problems.

14 - "É uma agulha num palheiro"; - "It's a needle in the haystack";

Needle in a haystack is a figure of speech used to refer to something that is difficult to find in a large space, exactly like in English. So it's about something being unlikely to happen, and that one needs a lot of luck in order to be successful. It can also be used when there aren't many clues as how to solve a problem.

Similar to: A needle in the haystack.

15 - "Lágrimas de crocodilo"; - "Crocodile tears";

Crocodile tears (or superficial sympathy) are a false, insincere display of emotion such as a hypocrite crying fake tears of grief. It stems from the ancient belief that crocodiles, in order to lure their prey, would weep. The unsuspecting prey would come close, only to be caught and rapidly devoured, again with a show of tears.

And zoologists have recorded alligators, close relatives of crocodiles, shedding tears while they’re eating. This parallel may be significant—rather than being an emotional response, the shedding of tears probably happens because of the way crocodiles and alligators eat: when eating their prey they will often huff and hiss as they blow out air, and their tear glands may empty at the same time. Original Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Similar to: Crocodile Tears.

16 - "Está daqui! " - "It's from here! "

This expression is used when food is delicious, and there's a gesture that accompanies it -one tugs their earlobe gently- It's used when a meal that is offered to us is very well made, and it's a way of thanking and complimenting someone at the same time.

17 - "Memória de elefante"; - "Elephant's memory";

I've never heard of this one having a parallel in another language. "Elephant's memory" means that a person has a very good memory, and can remember the smallest details after a very long time. It's almost like an interjection, to show someone's surprising and rare characteristics.

18 - "À noite todos os gatos são pardos"; - "At night all cats are mixed";

It's one of my favourite expressions and it's also a warning. It refers to street cats, that at night appear to all be the same colour, and a person can only see their eyes or teeth. It's used to alert people of other people or situations that might become dangerous because that person isn't paying proper attention to some kind of early warning sign for something that might go wrong.

19" - À sombra da bananeira"; - "In the banana tree's shade";

Used when a person is very lazy and doesn't like working, not even when it's convenient for them. It's used with a lot of prejudice and only in very obvious cases.

20 - "Nasceste com o rabo virado para a lua"; - "Born with your behind facing the moon";

Supposedly, people that were born with their behinds facing the moon are lucky, even when they lack organisation, are lazy or not of the hardworking kind. They always have luck in their daily life. It's used to describe an unfair situation that almost seems to be part of divine interference!

21 - "Bater as botas"; - "Knock the boots";

This is a way of saying someone has died, without literally saying it. It's not a very delicate expression, and it's not used with close family and friends. It's a popular expression, used mostly with slang, and in informal conversations with someone you are comfortable with.

22 - "Bater o dente"; - "Knock the tooth";

To understand this, one only needs to think about the movement of teeth chattering. It can have two meanings: Either someone is very, very afraid, or very, very cold. The meaning depends on the context and situation it is used in.

23 - "Cabeça na lua"; - "Head on the moon";

In Portuguese we also use "head up in the clouds", but less often than this one. It's used for an easily distracted person, that although physically present, isn't aware of their surroundings. It's also used for people that never know what day of the week it is, who forgets their tasks easily or isn't very efficient with their work.

24 - "Olho clínico"; - "Clinical eye";

Supposedly doctors should have a lot of attention to detail, and are trained to catch signs of any sickness early on. Because of this, we say someone has a "clinical eye" if they notice everything and pay a lot of attention to details.

25 - "Dar com o nariz na porta"; - "Hit the nose on the door";

This one is funny to imagine. It's used when a store or another service is almost closing or when someone doesn't actually remember that it is already closed. It can also be used when talking about private houses, when the residents refuse to open the door, or the person looking for them cannot find them at home in that moment.

26 - "Engolir sapos"; - "Swallow frogs";

The origin of the popular expression "swallow frogs" exists thanks to a story from the bible: The egyptian plagues. One of the plagues was frogs, in all of Egypts territory. During cooking and eating, the frogs were always present. These animals not only invaded the envoronment - kitchens, rooms, washrooms -, they also showed up in the egyptian's meals. Thus the expression: "swallow frogs", which means to bear nasty situations without complaining about them.

In this case "Swallowing frogs" means that a person needs to keep quiet about something they would like to say because of some higher power.

27 - "Dor de cotovelo"; - "Elbow pain";

A Idiom with very common usage, "elbow pain" is seen as the pain of jealousy and envy. In anyone desires someone else's praise for their hard labour, it is said this person has "elbow pain". Maybe because it is a very annoying, peculiar but persistent type of pain.

28 - "Dar o braço a torcer"; - "To allow your arm to be twisted";

To allow someone to twist our arm, metaphorically, aims to express that we are now accepting and allowing an opinion was wasn't initially ours. It supposes that this person had a very stubborn and fixed posture in relation to a certain situation.

29 - "Quem anda à chuva, molha-se! "; - "Those who wander in the rain, get wet! ";

This is one of my favourties! It means that all actions have consequences and that, in the end, it is necessary to deal with them. Those who act without first thinking have a tendency to not like what happens next. "Getting wet" in this case, is associated with a bad consequence.

30 - "Chegar a roupa ao pêlo"; - "Get the clothes close to the hair";

Other very "portuguese" idiom. When you threaten someone to "get the clothes close to their hair" (and "pêlo" is a type of hair that animals have, or our body hair, not the hair on our heads), you're threatening them with physical violence. It's a sign that one of these people is getting extremely unhappy and that any other wrong move might trigger bigger problems for the other person.

It's sometimes used as a joke, but always ironically. It's necessary to be alert, and try to understand the context to understand the intention of what is being said.

31 - "Dia D" / "Hora H"; - "D Day" / "H Hour";

Two expressions that mean "Today is the day" or "Now is the hour". They both indicate a strong belief that the person thinks something good will happen in the very moment. If anyone says "You're here right on the H Hour! ", it also means you got there in the exact time or in the hour they wanted you to be there. It's so unlikely to arrive in the exact right moment that we feel the need to highlight it.

32 - "Caçar no ar"; - "Hunt in the air";

Those who hunt in the air, catch nothing. People who "hunt in the air" are often considered dreamers and unrealistic, they often aren't very self-aware. They are considered silly and naive. This idiom is also used when people are too focused on something and become obsessed with it.

33 - "Serve-te a carapuça"; - "The hat fits"

The "carapuça" is a type of hat worn by those who were found guilty by the inquisition, it's similar in shape to a beanie, but it had a conical shape and it was not knitted, but instead made of sewn fabric. The condemned were forced to dress in ridiculous clothes before they were hanged.

"Does the hat fit? " is an ironic question that is only asked when someone unwillingly outs themselves as being guilty, for example, when something is mentioned to purposely determine who exactly was involved in that action.

Similar to: "if the cap/shoe fits"

34 - "Fazer um negócio da China"; - "Do a Chinese business deal";

An interjection used when a deal sounds too good to be true. It's simply to advantageous or profitable. . Chinese businesses are associated with allowing for quick money making, due to China's economic status and cheat labour. This expression began to be used when Chinese businesses boomed in Portugal in the early 2000's and it's now part of our language's history.

35 - "Rés-vés Campo de Ourique! "; - "Grazing the Ourique Field! "

This is another idiom that is connected to the history of Lisbon. The Ourique field is a neighbourhood localed on the hill, a little aways from the original historical centre of the city. During the famous and terrible Earthquake of November 1st of 1755, people ran to the highest parts of the city. the inhabitants of the Field of Eurique feared that the waters from the resulting tsumani would get to them, but fortunately they barely reached the neighbourhood.

This event stayed in the memory of most Portuguese people, especially the ones living in Lisbon, and it's still used today to describe disastrous situations that almost happened, highlighting the someone's good luck.

36 - "Ferver em pouca água. "; - "To boil in a small amount of water. ";

Those who boil in a small amount of water are very explosive, unpredictable people who have little patience and won't easily accept unfavourable situations.

37 - "Muitos anos a virar frangos. "; - "Many years turning chickens. ";

This not a very classy expression, but it's used a lot as a joke for when someone is an expert on something due to doing the same activity for many years (or for a very long amount of time).

38 - "Ver tudo cor-de-rosa. "; - "To see everything in pink. ";

Pink is currently associated with nice, gentle things. Nowadays it's a feminine colour, although in the past pink and blue had the opposite gender connotations (blue for girls and pink for boys). This expression most likely comes from the English "through rose-tinted glasses" and it means exactly the same. It's a way of seeing the world with an unduly cheerful, optimistic, or favourable view of things. It's thought such association exists due to pink being a desired skin complexion, a show of health, a contrast to the paleness of sickness.

39 - "Chegar a pimenta ao nariz. "; - "To get the pepper in the nose. ";

Pepper makes us sneeze and metaphorically this expression is used to discribe the moment someone starts to be irritated for some reason or with someone. It's a sign that the conversation should begin to lighten up, because things might go south after that.

40 - "Línguas de perguntador. "; - "The tongues of the questioning. ";

This is a very common answer given to children, in a joking tone, when they ask in an annoying way, or pretty often "What's for dinner? " It's also used in a joking tone towards adults, when they do not help with the meal preparation but keep asking when it's ready. It implies that the cook will serve the tongue of those who keep asking for the food.

41 - "Paninhos quentes"; - "Little warm cloths. ";

"To treat someone with little warm cloths" means to treat someone in a patronising way, either because they are incapable of leading with the consequences of a certain situation. It's an everyday expression that is usually used by a third person who accuses another of treating someone as if they were a child, or that they protect them in an irrational way from the consequences of their acts.

42 - "Ter uma pedra no lugar do coração! "; - "To have a rock in place of a heart! "

Another idiom with a very visual meaning. A rock is hard and heavy, and is frequently associated with cold people that don't get emotionally easily. It's used with people that cannot show empathy with their speech or acts.

43 - "O gato comeu-te a língua. "; - "The cat got your tongue. ";

Those without a tongue cannot speak. It's a funny expression that can be applied to someone, who usually is very talkative and social, and that for some reason is very quiet, closed off in their own world, without any apparent reason.

44 - "Não chegar aos calcanhares. "; - "To not reach someone's ankles. ";

This is a mean expression. When someone says that we "don't reach their ankles" it means that, according to their judgement, we are not at the same level in any field, depending on the meaning of the conversation. It shows that someone feels very superior for any given reason, whether they are right or not.

45 - Perdido por cem, perdido por mil. "; - "Lost by a hundred, lost by a thousand. ";

This is a quite a saying used a lot by apologists. Perfect when someone is about to commit a mistake and doesn't want to feel bad about it. Be it in a luck game (like the literal meaning suggests) or in daily life, people may use this when they already made a mistake, and thus decide that they might as well make a few more. For example, if a person accidentally eats a piece of candy while on a diet, they might use this expression and then eat a full cake. If you gamble and you lose a hundred Euros, why not gamble some more and lose a thousand?

46 - "Quem vê caras, não vê corações. "; - "Those who see faces, don't see hearts. ";

Equally present in daily conversations, this means that not always the prettiest, most well spoken, glamorous people are the most genuine, nor have the best intentions or are the kindest.

Similar to:You shouldn't judge a book by its' cover.

47 - "Meter a pata na poça. "; - "To put the paw in the puddle. ";

What happens when you put your paw (foot) in the puddle? You get wet! When someone "puts their paw in a puddle" they made a mistake. It's a good expression to use when pointing out when someone got something wrong.

48 - "Partir o côco a rir. "; - "To break the coconut laughing. ";

A coconut is a very hard fruit, and very dificult to crack or break. It requires some practice and a steady hit. This expression is used when someone laughs so hard they loose control of themselves.

49 - "Pensar na morte da bezerra. "; - "To think of the death of the calf. ";

There are several possible origins for this idiom, but the most simple one is that a calf is just a farm animal, and like such wasn't a pet. Therefore when the animal was killed, it wasn't considered anything abnormal. So when someone is staring forward, distracted, not listening to others this expression can be used.

50 - "Está para nascer um burro. "; - "A donkey is about to be born. ";

And to end this part - with another animal expression. This is used when someone says they will do something out of the ordinary (for them), and it's not easy to believe they will do so. Like a lazy person saying they will clean up their room.