Olá amigos!

When you are practicing Portuguese, are you one of those people who speak through their elbows? If you do not know what that means, check out these expressions that use parts of the body. Now, I’m giving you the heads up, in the beginning it could be hard to remember all the expressions you learn, but once you have used them a couple of times you will notice that mastering them is a no-brainer.

1. Falar pelos cotovelos: it translates as to speak through your elbows. It is used to refer to a person who talks too much.

Exemplo: Quando Lorena começa a falar, ela não para nunca. Essa menina fala pelos cotovelos. – When Lorena starts talking she never seems to stop. This girl talks a lot!

2. Não chegar aos pés: it translates as not to come to the feet. It is used to compare objects or people, meaning one of them is very superior to the other.

Exemplo: Minha casa antiga não chega aos pés desta nova que eu comprei. – My old house is not nearly as good as the new one I just bought.

 

3. Ter o olho maior que a barriga: it translates as to have the eyes bigger than the belly. It is used to refer to someone who thinks they have a bigger appetite than they actually do. Being greedy when it comes to food.

Exemplo: Pedro deixou metade da comida no prato, ele tem o olho maior que a barriga. – Pedro left half the food in his plate, he is very greedy when it comes to food.

 

4. Dar o braço a torcer: it translates as to give your arm to be twisted. It is used to refer to someone who is stubborn and does not change attitude or position easily.

Exemplo: Tentei convencer o Joaquim de mudar o projeto, mas ele não deu o braço a torcer. – I tried to convince Joaquim to change the project, but he is very stubborn and doesn’t change his mind easily.

 

5. Passar a perna: it means to use your leg to make someone trip, but in this case the expression means to take advantage of someone, to deliberately cause someone harm, to trick someone.

Exemplo: O vendedor me passou a perna. Ele me disse que a bolsa era de couro, mas depois te ter comprado eu descobri que não era verdade. – The salesman tricked me. He said the handbag was made of leather, but after having bought it I found out it wasn’t true.

 

6. Ser cara de pau: it translates as to have a wooden face. It means not to be easily embarrassed by most things. Being shameless and bold.

Exemplo: Gabriel me pediu mais cinquenta reais emprestado sem pagar os trinta que ele já me devia, ele é muito cara de pau! – Gabriel asked if he could borrow fifty reais without having payed the thirty he already owed me. He is so bold.

 

7. Ser dedo duro: it translates as to be a hard finger. It means to tell on someone, to be a snitch, to be a rat.

Exemplo: Meu irmão contou para a minha mãe que fui eu quem quebrou o vaso, ele é dedo duro! – My brother told my mom that it was me who broke the vase, he is such a snitch.

 

8. Falar da boca para fora: it translates as to speak from the mouth out. It is used to refer to something you say out of anger or spite, but do not really mean it.

Exemplo: O professor disse que da próxima vez que Fernanda atrasar para a aula ele não vai deixar Fernanda entrar, mas eu tenho certeza que ele fala isso da boca para fora. – The teacher said that the next time Fernanda is late for class he will not let her in, but I am sure he doesn’t mean it.

 

Now feel free to leave a comentário (comment) and let us know which one of these is your favourite expression. Mine is Ter o olho maior que a barriga, for some reason I can relate to it!