Portuguese Idioms

Essential Day-to-Day Idioms to Instantly Sound More Fluent and Speak with Confidence

lingoXpress

• Publisher: lingoXpress
• Year: 2024
• eBook ISBN: 9781991325112
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Languages
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Learn to speak Portuguese like a pro with Portuguese Idioms: Essential Day-to-Day Idioms to Instantly Sound More Fluent and Speak with Confidence.

This book is perfect for anyone who wants to sound more natural when speaking Portuguese. It's packed with common idioms used in everyday conversations, making it easier to understand Portuguese speakers and express yourself like a native.

Each idiom comes with a simple explanation, there are also exercises and examples to show you how to use it. Whether you're learning Portuguese for fun, travel, or work, this book will boost your confidence and fluency.

Inside, you'll find:

Useful idioms explained in plain English.

Practice exercises to help you learn faster and memorize the idioms.

Easy examples so you can start using the idioms in real-life situations.

Get your copy today and start sounding more fluent in Portuguese right away!

Table of contents

• lingoXpress
• Água mole em pedra dura tanto bate até que fura Literal: Soft water on hard stone hits until it drills. Meaning: Perseverance breaks down resistance.
• Mais vale um pássaro na mão do que dois voando Literal: Better one bird in hand than two flying. Meaning: It's better to hold onto something certain than risk it for more.
• Quem com ferro fere, com ferro será ferido Literal: He who wounds with iron, with iron will be wounded. Meaning: What goes around comes around.
• Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau Literal: In a blacksmith's house, a wooden skewer. Meaning: People often neglect to apply their skills at home.
• Cão que ladra não morde Literal: A dog that barks doesn’t bite. Meaning: People who talk a lot usually don’t act.
• Quem tem boca vai a Roma Literal: He who has a mouth goes to Rome. Meaning: If you have the will, you will find a way.
• Mais vale tarde do que nunca Literal: Better late than never. Meaning: It's better to do something late than not at all.
• Santo de casa não faz milagre Literal: A saint at home doesn’t perform miracles. Meaning: People are not appreciated in their own environment.
• De grão em grão, a galinha enche o papo Literal: From grain to grain, the chicken fills its crop. Meaning: Small efforts accumulate over time.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.Santo de casa não faz milagre 2.Quem com ferro fere, com ferro será ferido 3.Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau 4.Água mole em pedra dura tanto bate até que fura 5.Quem tem boca vai a Roma Meanings 1.Perseverance breaks down resistance 2.If you have the will, you will find a way 3.What goes around comes around 4.People often neglect to apply their skills at home 5.People are not appreciated in their own environment
• Answers 1.Santo de casa não faz milagre People are not appreciated in their own environment 2.Quem tem boca vai a Roma If you have the will, you will find a way 3.Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau People often neglect to apply their skills at home 4.Quem com ferro fere, com ferro será ferido What goes around comes around 5.Água mole em pedra dura tanto bate até que fura Perseverance breaks down resistance
• Writing Exercise Try to remember at least 3 idioms you learned! Write them down along with their translations as a way of memorizing them.
• Pau que nasce torto, nunca se endireita Literal: A stick that’s born crooked never straightens. Meaning: A person’s character is hard to change.
• Nem tudo o que reluz é ouro Literal: Not everything that shines is gold. Meaning: Appearances can be deceiving.
• Quem não tem cão, caça com gato Literal: He who doesn’t have a dog hunts with a cat. Meaning: Make do with what you have.
• Em boca fechada não entra mosca Literal: In a closed mouth, no fly enters. Meaning: It's better to remain silent than to say something foolish.
• Devagar se vai ao longe Literal: Slowly you go far. Meaning: Patience and persistence will get you far.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.Quem não tem cão, caça com gato 2.Devagar se vai ao longe 3.Nem tudo o que reluz é ouro 4.Pau que nasce torto, nunca se endireita 5.Em boca fechada não entra mosca Meanings 1.Patience and persistence will get you far 2.A person’s character is hard to change 3.Appearances can be deceiving 4.Make do with what you have 5.It's better to remain silent than to say something foolish
• Answers 1.Quem não tem cão, caça com gato Make do with what you have 2.Devagar se vai ao longe Patience and persistence will get you far 3.Nem tudo o que reluz é ouro Appearances can be deceiving 4.Pau que nasce torto, nunca se endireita A person’s character is hard to change 5.Em boca fechada não entra mosca It's better to remain silent than to say something foolish
• A pressa é inimiga da perfeição Literal: Haste is the enemy of perfection. Meaning: Rushing leads to mistakes.
• Diz-me com quem andas, dir-te-ei quem és Literal: Tell me who you hang out with, and I’ll tell you who you are. Meaning: You are known by the company you keep.
• Quem semeia vento, colhe tempestade Literal: He who sows wind, reaps a storm. Meaning: Actions have consequences.
• Não adianta chorar sobre o leite derramado Literal: It doesn’t help to cry over spilled milk. Meaning: Don’t waste time on regrets.
• Cavalo dado não se olha os dentes Literal: A gift horse’s teeth aren’t looked at. Meaning: Don’t criticize a gift.
• Cada macaco no seu galho Literal: Every monkey in its own branch. Meaning: Everyone should stick to what they know.
• Boca de siri Literal: Crab’s mouth. Meaning: To be silent, not to say anything.
• Falar pelos cotovelos Literal: To talk through your elbows. Meaning: To talk excessively.
• Pôr a mão no fogo Literal: To put your hand in the fire. Meaning: To be certain about something.
• Sabe o que quer, mas não sabe como Literal: Knows what he wants, but not how. Meaning: You are clear about your desires but unclear on how to achieve them.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.Cada macaco no seu galho 2.Não adianta chorar sobre o leite derramado 3.Boca de siri 4.Pôr a mão no fogo 5.A pressa é inimiga da perfeição Meanings 1.Rushing leads to mistakes 2.Don’t waste time on regrets 3.Everyone should stick to what they know 4.To be silent, not to say anything 5.To be certain about something
• Answers 1.Cada macaco no seu galho Everyone should stick to what they know 2.Não adianta chorar sobre o leite derramado Don’t waste time on regrets 3.Boca de siri To be silent, not to say anything 4.Pôr a mão no fogo To be certain about something 5.A pressa é inimiga da perfeição Rushing leads to mistakes
• Não vale a pena Literal: It’s not worth it. Meaning: It’s not worth the effort.
• Fazer das tripas coração Literal: To make a heart out of your guts. Meaning: To make a big effort, even when it’s hard.
• Quem nunca comeu mel, quando come se lambuza Literal: He who never ate honey, when he does, he makes a mess. Meaning: Someone inexperienced may overdo it.
• O peixe morre pela boca Literal: The fish dies by the mouth. Meaning: Be careful with what you say.
• Complete the Word Below are four idioms with one missing word. Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the idiom. 1.Quem nunca comeu mel, quando come se ______ 2.Quem semeia vento, ______ ______ 3.Fazer das ______ coração 4.______ pelos cotovelos
• Answers 1.Quem nunca comeu mel, quando come se lambuza 2.Quem semeia vento, colhe tempestade 3.Fazer das tripas coração 4.Falar pelos cotovelos
• A galinha do vizinho é sempre mais gorda Literal: The neighbor’s chicken is always fatter. Meaning: People often think other people’s situations are better.
• Quem não arrisca não petisca Literal: He who doesn’t risk, doesn’t snack. Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
• Matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada só Literal: To kill two rabbits with one blow. Meaning: To solve two problems at once.
• Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga Literal: God helps those who wake up early. Meaning: Success comes to those who work hard.
• A união faz a força Literal: Unity makes strength. Meaning: Together, we are stronger.
• Quem tem fome, tem pressa Literal: He who is hungry, is in a hurry. Meaning: When you need something, you rush.
• Quem tudo quer, tudo perde Literal: He who wants everything, loses everything. Meaning: Don’t be greedy.
• Águas passadas não movem moinhos Literal: Past waters don’t move mills. Meaning: What’s done is done, move on.
• A galinha dos ovos de ouro Literal: The chicken that lays golden eggs. Meaning: Something that continuously provides benefits.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga 2.A galinha do vizinho é sempre mais gorda 3.Quem não arrisca não petisca 4.Quem tem fome, tem pressa 5.Águas passadas não movem moinhos Meanings 1.When you need something, you rush 2.People often think other people’s situations are better 3.Success comes to those who work hard 4.What’s done is done, move on 5.Nothing ventured, nothing gained
• Answers 1.Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga Success comes to those who work hard 2.A galinha do vizinho é sempre mais gorda People often think other people’s situations are better 3.Quem não arrisca não petisca Nothing ventured, nothing gained 4.Quem tem fome, tem pressa When you need something, you rush 5.Águas passadas não movem moinhos What’s done is done, move on
• Dar o braço a torcer Literal: To give the arm to twist. Meaning: To give in, to surrender.
• Entrar pelos olhos e sair pelos ouvidos Literal: Enter through the eyes and leave through the ears. Meaning: To forget easily.
• Lágrimas de crocodilo Literal: Crocodile tears. Meaning: Fake tears, insincere sorrow.
• Não se pode agradar a gregos e troianos Literal: You can’t please both Greeks and Trojans. Meaning: You can’t please everyone.
• A quem Deus ama, a Páscoa não tarda Literal: To whom God loves, Easter is not long. Meaning: Good things come to those who deserve it.
• Fazer algo de cabeça fria Literal: To do something with a cold head. Meaning: To think carefully before acting.
• Botar a mão na massa Literal: To put your hand in the dough. Meaning: To get involved and take action.
• Cair do cavalo Literal: To fall from the horse. Meaning: To be deceived or fail.
• Cada um sabe onde o calo aperta Literal: Each one knows where the shoe pinches. Meaning: Everyone knows their own struggles.
• Fazer o jogo de alguém Literal: To play someone’s game. Meaning: To do something to benefit someone else.
• Sair de mão abanando Literal: To leave with a wagging hand. Meaning: To leave empty-handed.
• Ficar a ver navios Literal: To watch ships go by. Meaning: To be left out or disappointed.
• Gato escaldado tem medo de água fria Literal: A scalded cat is afraid of cold water. Meaning: Once bitten, twice shy.
• Encher linguiça Literal: To stuff sausage. Meaning: To fill space with unnecessary information.
• Ser cabeça dura Literal: To be a hard head. Meaning: To be stubborn.
• Bicho de sete cabeças Literal: A seven-headed beast. Meaning: Something that seems more complicated than it is.
• Viver de vento Literal: To live on wind. Meaning: To live with no solid means of support.
• Trocar os pés pelas mãos Literal: To swap your feet for your hands. Meaning: To mess something up.
• Estar com a pulga atrás da orelha Literal: To have a flea behind the ear. Meaning: To be suspicious.
• Correr atrás do prejuízo Literal: To run after the loss. Meaning: To try to recover from a mistake.
• Sorrir à toa Literal: To smile at everything. Meaning: To smile without reason.
• Comer pelas beiradas Literal: To eat from the edges. Meaning: To act cautiously, avoiding risks.
• A noite é uma criança Literal: The night is a child. Meaning: The night is still young.
• Deixar a desejar Literal: To leave something to desire. Meaning: To not live up to expectations.
• Writing Exercise Try to remember at least 10 idioms you learned! Write them down as a way of memorizing them.
• Matar a saudade Literal: To kill the longing. Meaning: To relieve a feeling of missing someone.
• A ficha caiu Literal: The chip fell. Meaning: To understand something suddenly.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.Deixar a desejar 2.Comer pelas beiradas 3.Trocar os pés pelas mãos 4.Correr atrás do prejuízo 5.A noite é uma criança Meanings 1.To not live up to expectations 2.The night is still young 3.To act cautiously, avoiding risks 4.To mess something up 5.To try to recover from a mistake
• Answers 1.Deixar a desejar To not live up to expectations 2.A noite é uma criança The night is still young 3.Comer pelas beiradas To act cautiously, avoiding risks 4.Correr atrás do prejuízo To try to recover from a mistake 5.Trocar os pés pelas mãos To mess something up
• Complete the Word Below are four idioms with one missing word. Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the idiom. 1.Estar com a pulga atrás da ______ 2.______ do cavalo 3.Não se pode agradar ______ e ______ 4.Dar o braço a ______
• Answers 1.Estar com a pulga atrás da orelha 2.Cair do cavalo 3.Não se pode agradar a gregos e troianos 4.Dar o braço a torcer
• Dar a volta por cima Literal: To turn over. Meaning: To overcome adversity.
• Botar a boca no trombone Literal: To put the mouth on the trombone. Meaning: To expose something publicly.
• Ficar de cara Literal: To be with face. Meaning: To be surprised or shocked.
• Fazer do limão uma limonada Literal: To make lemonade out of a lemon. Meaning: To turn something bad into something good.
• Entrar em parafuso Literal: To go into a screw. Meaning: To go crazy or to lose control.
• Chutar o balde Literal: To kick the bucket. Meaning: To give up or to act recklessly.
• Fazer tempestade em copo d’água Literal: To make a storm in a glass of water. Meaning: To overreact to something minor.
• Bater as botas Literal: To hit the boots. Meaning: To die.
• A vaca foi pro brejo Literal: The cow went to the swamp. Meaning: Something went wrong.
• Nadar contra a corrente Literal: To swim against the current. Meaning: To do something against the trend.
• Ter a cabeça nas nuvens Literal: To have your head in the clouds. Meaning: To be absent-minded or dreamy.
• Colocar os pingos nos is Literal: To put the dots on the i’s. Meaning: To clarify things.
• Ninguém é de ferro Literal: No one is made of iron. Meaning: Everyone has limits.
• Cair a ficha Literal: To drop the chip. Meaning: To realize something.
• Complete the Word Below are four idioms with one missing word. Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the idiom. 1.Bicho de ______ cabeças 2.Gato escaldado tem ______ de água ______ 3.Sair de mão ______ 4.Cada um sabe onde o ______ aperta
• Answers 1.Bicho de sete cabeças 2.Gato escaldado tem medo de água fria 3.Sair de mão abanando 4.Cada um sabe onde o calo aperta