You’ll find that in Portuguese, there are quite a few soccer vocabulary words, phrases or expressions that have second and third meanings that have different, real-life applications, but are related to the physical actions from the sport.

One example is the verb chutar. It has a couple of different meanings that all derive from its physical meaning used in futebol.

1. To kick

Example: Ele chuta a porta quando fica com raiva. He kicks the door when he gets mad.

Chutou a bola e fez um gol. He kicked the ball and scored a goal.

2. To guess

Example: Não sabia a resposta, mas chutei e acertei! I didn’t know the answer, but I guessed and I got it right!

Expressions

1. chutar o balde – to have it up to here with someone; to give up

Examples:

Essa menina nunca me escuta. Já chutei o balde para ela. That girl never listens to me. I’ve had it up to here with her.

Eles cansaram de discutir e chutaram o balde. They got tired of arguing and gave up.

2. chutar cachorro morto – to beat a dead horse

Example: Não adianta! Não dá para chutar cachorro morto. It won’t work! No sense in beating a dead horse.