Idioms & Expressions (from common to old)

Question 1

custa-me a acreditar

Answer 1

it’s hard to believe (expression)

Question 2

devagar se vai ao longe

Answer 2

slow goes a long way

Question 3

que beleza

Answer 3

what a beauty

Question 4

como tem passado?

Answer 4

How have you been?

Question 5

Centenas de milhões

Answer 5

Hundreds of millions

Question 6

Dar uma vista de olhos

Answer 6

To take a look at

Question 7

Fico feliz em saber que

Answer 7

I am happy to know that…

Question 8

Viste as notícias?

Answer 8

Have you heard the news?

Question 9

pensar em voz alta

Answer 9

thinking out loud

Question 10

Consegues arranjar um tempinho para…

Answer 10

Can you make yourself available for…?

Question 11

Eu mudei de ideias

Answer 11

I changed my mind

Question 12

Que pena!

Answer 12

What a pity/shame!

Question 13

Ser uma pena

Answer 13

To be a pity/shame

Question 14

É melhor prevenir do que remediar

Answer 14

Better safe than sorry

Question 15

Das duas uma

Answer 15

When someone presents 2 possible options (like saying ‘pick one’ after presenting two)

Question 16

Dar o braço a torcer

Answer 16

give the arm a twist (used when someone helps settle a conflict typically with a compromise, not like the english vsn where “twisting the arm” implies forcing somebody to do something)

Question 17

estás safo

Answer 17

you’re off the hook (from ‘you are safe’)

Question 18

onde anda?

Answer 18

where are you?

Question 19

vamos pôr a conversa em dia

Answer 19

let’s catch up (we will put a conversation up to date, where ‘em dia’ also is a phrase for ‘up to date’)

Question 20

Não me posso queixar

Answer 20

I cannot complain (‘can’t complain’ - like a reply to ‘how are you?)

Question 21

“Quem não arrisca, não petisca”

Answer 21

“Who doesn’t risk, doesn’t snack” (Nothing ventured, nothing gained)

Question 22

“Mais vale tarde do que nunca”

Answer 22

“Better late than never”

Question 23

“Quem espera sempre alcança”

Answer 23

“He who waits always achieves” (Patience is a virtue/Good things come to those who wait)

Question 24

“Cada macaco no seu galho”

Answer 24

“Each monkey on its own branch” (To each their own/Mind your own business)

Question 25

"Deitar cedo e cedo erguer, dá saúde e faz crescer"

Answer 25

"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise"

Question 26

"Filho de peixe, peixinho é"

Answer 26

"Like father, like son" (Literally, "Son of a fish, little fish is")

Question 27

"Onde há fumaça, há fogo"

Answer 27

"Where there's smoke, there's fire"

Question 28

"Devagar se vai ao longe"

Answer 28

"Slow and steady wins the race" (Literally, "Slowly one goes far")

Question 29

"Cão que ladra não morde"

Answer 29

"Barking dogs seldom bite" (Literally, "A dog that barks doesn't bite")

Question 30

"A cavalo dado não se olha o dente"

Answer 30

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth"

Question 31

"Quem tudo quer, tudo perde"

Answer 31

"Grasp all, lose all" (Literally, "Who wants everything, loses everything")

Question 32

"Em terra de cego, quem tem olho é rei"

Answer 32

"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king"

Question 33

"Amigo de todos, amigo de ninguém"

Answer 33

"A friend to all is a friend to none" (Literally, "Friend of everyone, friend of no one")

Question 34

"Pão pão, queijo queijo"

Answer 34

"Call a spade a spade" (Literally, "Bread bread, cheese cheese")

Question 35

Quebrar o gelo

Answer 35

Break the ice

Question 36

A gota d'água

Answer 36

The last straw

Question 37

Deitar tudo a perder

Answer 37

Spill the beans

Question 38

Engolir o sapo

Answer 38

Bite the bullet

Question 39

Ir na onda

Answer 39

Jump on the bandwagon

Question 40

Custar os olhos da cara

Answer 40

Cost an arm and a leg

Question 41

Deixar escapar o segredo

Answer 41

Let the cat out of the bag

Question 42

Num piscar de olhos

Answer 42

At the drop of a hat (literally "in the blink of an eye," meaning immediately or without hesitation)

Question 43

Queimar as pestanas

Answer 43

Burn the midnight oil (literally "burn the eyelashes," meaning to study or work hard, especially late into the night)

Question 44

Chorar sobre leite derramado

Answer 44

Cry over spilled milk (a direct translation, used in the same way)

Question 45

Há males que vêm para bem

Answer 45

A blessing in disguise (literally "there are bad things that come for good," meaning a misfortune that turns out to have advantages)

Question 46

Fazer algo pela via mais curta

Answer 46

Cut corners (literally "to do something by the shortest route," meaning to do something in the easiest or cheapest way)

Question 47

Estudar a fundo

Answer 47

Hit the books (literally "study deeply," meaning to study hard)

Question 48

O elefante na sala

Answer 48

The elephant in the room (a direct translation, used in the same way)

Question 49

Perder o barco

Answer 49

Miss the boat (a direct translation, used in the same way)

Question 50

Não estar nos seus melhores dias

Answer 50

Under the weather or not well (literally "not being in one's best days," meaning feeling ill or unwell)

Question 51

Dar com a língua nos dentes

Answer 51

To spill a secret (Similar to "Spill the beans" in English)

Question 52

Esticar a corda

Answer 52

To push the limits or go too far (literally "stretch the cord")

Question 53

Fazer uma tempestade num copo de água

Answer 53

To make a big deal out of something minor (literally, "Making a storm in a glass of water" - Similar to "Make a mountain out of a molehill" in English)

Question 54

Meter água

Answer 54

To fail or make a mess of things (literally "pour water")

Question 55

Pôr a carroça à frente dos bois

Answer 55

To put the cart before the horse (Direct equivalent in English)

Question 56

Tirar o cavalinho da chuva

Answer 56

To give up on an idea or plan, also often used when saying "don't even think about it" (literally "take your little horse out of the rain")

Question 57

Ter a pulga atrás da orelha

Answer 57

To be suspicious or have doubts (literally, "Having a flea behind your ear" and used as similar to "Smell a rat" in English)

Question 58

Não ver um palmo à frente do nariz

Answer 58

To be short-sighted or lack foresight (literally "Not seeing an inch in front of your nose")

Question 59

Pagar o pato

Answer 59

To take the blame for something one did not do (literally "pay the price" - used as similar to "Take the fall" or "Scapegoat" in English, )

Question 60

Deitar lenha na fogueira

Answer 60

To add fuel to the fire (Direct equivalent in English)

Question 61

Andar nas nuvens (or "Estar com a cabeça nas nuvens")

Answer 61

To daydream or be out of touch with reality, or be distracted (Similar to "Head in the clouds" in English)

Question 62

Engolir sapos

Answer 62

To tolerate or endure an unpleasant situation (Similar to "Bite the bullet" in English, means "to swallow frogs")

Question 63

Ver navios

Answer 63

To wait for something that never arrives ("to see ships")

Question 64

Cair que nem um patinho

Answer 64

To be easily deceived or fall for something (Similar to "Fall for something hook, line, and sinker" in English)

Question 65

Lavar as mãos

Answer 65

To abstain from responsibility (Similar to "Wash one's hands of something" in English)

Question 66

Meter o rabo entre as pernas

Answer 66

To admit defeat or retreat in shame (Similar to "Tuck tail and run" in English)

Question 67

Fazer ouvidos de mercador

Answer 67

To ignore something deliberately (Similar to "Turn a deaf ear" in English)

Question 68

Puxar a brasa à sua sardinha

Answer 68

To act in one's own self-interest (Similar to "Look out for number one" in English, like saying "Pulling the strings on your own sardine")

Question 69

aqui há gato

Answer 69

literally "there is a cat here" meaning "something is suspicious"

Question 70

Ter em mãos

Answer 70

like "it is in her hands" To refer to someone being responsible for something (also seen as "estar nas mãos de..")

Question 71

Pôr no lugar de

Answer 71

To refer to someone putting themselves in the shoes of another person (Põe-te no lugar dele, put yourself in his shoes)

Question 72

andar à nora

Answer 72

Literally "walking at the noria (water wheel)," used to describe someone going around in circles or being very confused.

Question 73

não ter papas na língua

Answer 73

"Not to have breadcrumbs on the tongue," meaning someone who speaks their mind clearly and without hesitation. ("Eu não tenho papas na língua." translates directly as "I don't have breadcrumbs on my tongue," meaning you're someone who speaks openly and directly.)