Idiomatic expressions – Part Two

Idiomatic expressions seem less interesting when they have to be learned by heart. However, just getting information about their meaning and translation from literal Portuguese into portable Portuguese is both important and fun.

This article is just so that when you hear an idiomatic expression addressed to you, you do not think that your interlocutor is crazy or is joking with you, saying strange things.

Pagar para ver

An interesting expression is “pay to watch”. Sometimes there are situations when there is complete certainty that nothing will work out. This happens because of inflated self-esteem, because of too bold promises and doubt that the goal will be achieved.

Despite this state of affairs, it is sometimes interesting to know how events will develop, how a person will get out, how he admits or does not recognize failure. In that case, you can pay your time and attention to see it.

O Ministro prometeu que ninguém ficaria a perder com as novas medidas económicas, mas eu pago para ver. (The Minister said no one has anything to lose with the new economic measures, but I’ll wait and see.)

Passar uma esponja sobre

The literal translation is “swipe with a sponge”. Let’s imagine a nasty sauce stain on the table. If we run a sponge over it and it absorbs everything, what is left? Nothing! And in seconds we will forget about its existence. Therefore, this idiomatic expression means “forget”.

Ele ofendeu-me, mas eu passei uma esponja sobre o assunto. (He offended me, but I forgot it.)

Passar-se dos carretos

It is difficult to adequately translate this expression so that its real meaning is understood. Recall that the phrasal verb “passar de” means “to go beyond, beyond”, and the word “carretos” is translated as “carts”.

The only association arises when these words are combined, it is like a cart rushing down a mountainside without choosing a path. Seems crazy, right? Exactly! This expression means “to go crazy”, “behave like a madman”.

Passei-me dos carretos quando percebi que me tinham enganado. (I went crazy when I realized that I had been cheated.)

Lutar com unhas e dentes

Everything is simple here. When we really want something, dream about something strongly, we are ready to fight for it, using our nails and teeth. Not always a dream and desire is some kind of acquisition in life.

There are such difficulties as illnesses, tragedies. Then we are really ready for much and even more. If it is necessary to make a titanic effort, we cling to the possibility with our nails and hold on to hope with our teeth.

O João lutou com unhas e dentes para conseguir o primeiro lugar no campeonato. (João fought with all his strength to take first place in the championship.)

Meter-se na boca do lobo

We will not have to explain this expression for a long time and build associations. “Stepping into the jaws of a wolf” is dangerous, and it is enough to know this to understand the meaning of this expression.

Pobre Joana! Ao pedir um favor ao Rui, foi meter-se na boca do lobo. (Poor Joana. Asking Ruy for help, she takes a dangerous risk.)

Meter-se em negócios

Fortunately, everything here is also quite logical, which means that we do not have to make much effort to remember this expression.

“Poking your nose into someone else’s business” is ugly and rude. Therefore, the owner of the business, namely the situation, can legally ask you to mind your own business.

A tua opinião não me interessa. Estas a meter-se em negócios alheios. (Your opinion doesn’t interest me. Sticking your nose into other people’s business.)

Olhar como um boi para um palácio

“Look like a bull at the palace” – how is it? How can a bull feel about a luxurious building, while he himself is used to living in a barn? Nothing but surprise!

Ficou olhar para a obra do artista como um boi para um palácio. (I remained to look at the work of the artist with great surprise.)

In different languages ​​there is a similar expression, only animals and objects are used differently, but the meaning remains the same.

Pensar na morte da bezzera

“Thinking about the death of a heifer” – this phrase seems absurd. What does the heifer have to do with it, and even more so her death? Why think about it?

All these questions reveal the main meaning of the expression – to think not about that, not about the right topic, namely, to be abstract. Estás a pensar na morte da bezzera? Volta lá à realidade. (Are you distracted? Come back here to reality.)

Sair o tiro pela culatra

When a person intends to shoot (dar um tiro), he has a specific task – to hit the target. If the shot is fired not through the barrel of the weapon, but through the butt, then something went wrong and the result was the opposite.

This is what this idiomatic expression says. Ele quis enganar o cliente, mas saiu-lhe o tiro pela culatra. O cliente era polícia. (He wanted to deceive the client, but the result was the opposite. The client turned out to be a policeman.)

Conclusion

As far as you can see, idiomatic expressions help you navigate when communicating. Speaking Portuguese is a very good skill, but using and understanding the idiomatic expressions of the Portuguese people is cool!