Olá pessoal.

Nesta semana (this week) we are going take a look at some idiomatic expressions with the verb dar. This verb means literally to give, but it could also mean something else if applied to the contexts below:

 

1. Dar zebra

Meaning: zebra means the same in English as it does in Portuguese with different pronunciation. However, in this context, dar zebra is used when something goes wrong.

Example:

• Nós planejamos todos os detalhes, mas no final deu zebra. We planned every detail, but it did not work out at the end.

 

2. Dar para trás

Meaning: trás tanslates as behind, but in this context, dar para trás means to give up doing something.

Example:

• Igor queria comprar o carro, mas o dono deu para trás. Igor wanted to buy the car, but the owner gave up.

 

3. Dar bom dia a cavalo

Meaning: this is literally translated as say good morning to horses. This is said about a person who talks more than usual, so much so that he/she ends up saying what they shouldn’t.

Example:

• Fernanda contou meu segredo para todo mundo. Ela fala tanto que dá bom dia a cavalo. Fernanda told my secret to everyone. She talks more than he should.

 

 

4. Dar bola para + pessoa

Meaning: bola translates as ball, but in this context dar bola means to show interest in someone openly.

Example:

• Carla deu bola para Fred na festa de aniversário. Carla hit on Fred at the birthday party.

 

5. Dar bolo

Meaning: bolo translates literally as cake. However, dar bolo means to stand someone up.

Example:

• Nós iamos encontrar às 5 horas, mas ele me deu bolo. We were going to meet at 5, but he stood me up.

 

6. Dar na mesma

Meaning: mesma translate as the same, so in this context dar na mesma means the end result is the same. Taking different actions do not change the final results.

Examples:

• Ao invés de ligar eu fui na casa dela, mas deu na mesma, ela não falou comigo. Instead of calling I went to her house, but it was all for nothing since she did not talk to me.
• O treinador substituiu o jogador no segundo tempo, mas deu na mesma, eles perderam o jogo. The coach replaced the player in the second half, but it was all for nothing since they lost anyway.

 

7. Dar no pé

Meaning: pé translates literally as foot, but dar no pé means to run, escape.

Example:

• Gustavo não queria converser comigo, então depois do trabalho ele deu no pé. Gustavo did not want to talk to me, so he ran off after work.

 

8. Dar um pulo/pulinho

Meaning: pulo translates literally as jump, but dar um pulo or dar um pulinho means to go somewhere for a quick visit.

Example:

• Flávia vai dar um pulo na casa da vovó mais tarde. Flavia will drop by Grandma’s later on.

 

9. Dar uma passada/passadinha

Meaning: dar uma passada or dar uma passadinha means to go somwehere for a short period of time, usually a bit longer than dar um pulo/pulinho.

Example:

• Diego deu uma passadinha na festa, mas não ficou muito tempo. Diego dropped by the party, but he didn’t stay for long.

 

10. Dar uma volta

Meaning: volta translates as turn. However, dar uma volta means go for a walk/drive without having a specific direction.

Example:

• Vou dar uma volta para clerear o pensamento. I am going for a walk to clear my thoughts.

 

11. Dar trabalho

Meaning: trabalho translates as work. However, in this context dar trabalho is used when you wish to say someone is hard to take care of (especially children or the elderly), or to say something takes a lot of time to do.

Examples:

• Ela começou a dar trabalho por volta dos 80 anos. She started being hard to care for at around 80 years of age.
• Este projeto vai dar muito trabalho. This project is going to be hard (take a lot of time) to do.

 

12. Dar

Meaning: when you wish to talk about fruits, legumes, vegetables, flowers and plants in general, you use the verb dar meaning to grow.

Example:

• No quintal lá de casa dá tomate, manjericão e abóbora. In my backyard we grow tomatoes, basil and pumpkin.
• No verão dá manga em todos os lugares no Brasil. During summer mangos grow everywhere in Brazil.

 

13. Não dar

Meaning: you use this expression when something is not enough.

Examples:

• Eu quero comprar um chocolate, mas meu dinheiro não dá. I want to buy chocolate, but I don’t have enough money.
• A quantidade de arroz que temos não dá para o jantar. The amount of rice we have is not enough for dinner.
• Sarah está sem tempo, não vai dar para ela ir ao cinema com a gente. Sarah doesn’t have time so she can’t go to the cinema with us.