There’s no one who “invents” expressions like the Portuguese, sometimes our everyday slang.
But there are many expressions you’ve never heard of, and we’re going to explain them to you here… tim by tim… see?!
1 – À grande and à la française
The expression “à grande and à la française” means abundantly; with pomp.
2 – Résvés Campo de Ourique
The expression “resvés Campo de Ourique” means narrowly; just barely.
3 – To have the ears of a louse
Before World War II, many young people suffered from a disease: tísica, what we now call tuberculosis. It turned out that people suffering from this disease were very sensitive in terms of their hearing. Hence the expression “having tisic ears”, which means hearing as well as those suffering from tuberculosis.
4 – Like sardines in a can
It’s used when many people are in the same space, usually squeezed together. It’s very common when it comes to public transport.
5 – From the time of Maria Cachucha
This is when you say that something is very old.
6 – Like the works of Santa Engrácia
It’s used to indicate that something won’t happen; that it will be a long time before it does.
7 – Rebeubéu sparrows to the nest
Like birds returning from their nests, this expression means a big commotion; a lot of noise.
8 – To be the iron fist
According to Priberam, it means the person who ostentatiously figures in a business deal instead of the real person involved.
9 – To be counted out
It means taking something for granted; inevitable.
10 – Stuff from the old days
It’s the same as saying that they’re incredible; unusual; miraculous.
11 – To give a whimper
A sign of starting something.
12 – To suck up
Excessive praise, sometimes false.
13 – Getting stuck
Connotes the idea of failing; being late; getting lost; or not arriving on time.
14 – It’s not going to be smooth sailing
Means it’ s not going to be easy.
15 – We don’t have glasses of water, only water
Glasses are not exclusively for carrying water, that’s just one of the things they can carry. It’s often used in cafés when someone asks for a glass of water.
16 – Gold on blue
This is when something stands out even more than usual.
17 – Pulling the wool over our eyes
It means saying something or doing something that benefits you. It can be interpreted as derogatory.
18 – It’s clean wheat flour Amparo
It’s said when something is very simple; easy.
19 – Tying the knot
It happens when two people get married; they live together.
20 – First you get strange, then you get comfortable
The first Coca-Cola advertisement in Portugal was created by the poet Fernando Pessoa, who “invented” this slogan, which ended up on paper because of the name “Coca”, the plant from which cocaine is extracted.
21 – To be on one’s back
Refers to a person with a bad face; with a sour or unfriendly facial expression.
22 – It’s a double-edged sword
When a situation becomes very difficult to decide on, either because both options are good or bad.
23 – Go around the big pool
It’s used to ask someone not to bother you; to go away.
24 – Thinking a donkey died
This is used when someone has been thinking for too long without reaching any great conclusions.
25 – Asking for the pain
It means asking for the bill, expressions we usually make in a restaurant.
26 – Dar tanga
It’s the same as saying: “Are you kidding me?”
27 – Estar com a bezana
It’s being drunk.
28 – Not much of a rifle
It means that something isn’t great.
29 – A ver navios
A person who has been cheated; has become disillusioned.
30 – To eat and cry for more
It’s the same as saying that something is fantastic, usually food.
31 – Get out of the rain
Giving up on an idea or intention because there is no chance of success.
32 – To say snakes and lizards
To say something bad about someone.
33 – It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack
Looking for something almost impossible to find.
34 – Sleeping in the shade of a banana tree
When someone is accused of doing nothing, when they have a good life, no worries and no work.
35 – Being born with your ass facing the moon
This is when someone is really lucky, when they get what they want without having worked very hard for it.
36 – Being on the moon
Or “being on the moon”, is one of the expressions that means a person is distracted or has forgotten something.
37 – People who walk in the rain get wet
Everything we do has consequences, whether good or bad, but in this case, the bad ones.
38 – Arriving at the right time
It means arriving at the right time, at a certain moment, with precision.
39 – Many years of turning chickens
When someone is already very good at a certain task because they’ve been doing it for a long time.
40 – Putting your foot in it
When someone accidentally messes up or is inconvenient.
41 – Putting off
When someone postpones a decision or action.
42 – A lot of straw, not enough grapes
So much for such a poor result.
43 – Rely on the Virgin and don’t run
Don’t rely on luck alone, but act.
44 – Go bother Camões
Tell someone else not to bother you and go bother someone else.
45 – Having more eyes than belly
You want more than you can eat.