Idiomatic expressions
In both everyday conversations and professional settings, mastering idiomatic expressions can make a significant difference in how effectively we communicate.
Idioms are phrases that carry meanings beyond their literal interpretations, and they often reflect cultural nuances that can enhance your interactions.
Using such expressions can help maintain a constructive tone during discussions, especially in meetings where clarity is crucial.
In everyday life, knowing idiomatic expressions can help you connect more deeply with native speakers. It shows that you understand the culture and can engage in conversations more fluidly.
In the corporate world, idioms can convey professionalism and familiarity with the workplace culture, which can be vital for building rapport with colleagues and clients.
Ultimately, incorporating idiomatic expressions into your vocabulary can enrich your communication skills, making interactions smoother and more impactful.
Idiomatic expressions in Portuguese
Quick Portuguese tip: você não entendeu o ponto
During meetings, it’s essential to ensure that everyone is aligned with the objectives and the central message.
Sometimes, we notice that an important point is being misunderstood or overlooked.
A diplomatic way to redirect the conversation is to use the expression ‘you’re missing the point’, which can be interpreted in Portuguese as ‘você não está entendendo/essa não é a questão’.
Quick Portuguese tip: vamos ao que interessa
Have you ever found yourself in meetings that seem to go nowhere? An effective way to keep the focus and steer the conversation toward essential topics is to use the expression ‘let’s get down to business’, which can be translated to Portuguese as ‘vamos ao que interessa’.
This phrase is a polite and direct way of saying, ‘Let’s get to the point’. 🎯
By doing so, you can centralize the group’s attention on the meeting’s objectives, avoiding distractions and promoting a more productive discussion.
Quick Portuguese tip: qual é a pegadinha?
The expression ‘What’s the catch?’ can be understood as ‘Qual é a pegadinha?’. It’s usually used informally and can be said with a touch of humor or skepticism.
Anyone who has watched the show ‘The Office’ knows that Michael Scott (Steve Carell) is an extroverted, sarcastic, reckless, and sometimes annoying leader whose main hobby is playing pranks on his employees, creating a lot of skepticism within the team.
So, it’s no surprise that he offered a raise to Jim (John Krasinski) just as one of his antics. 😅
Quick Portuguese tip: não é um bicho de sete cabeças
Have you ever heard someone say ‘it’s not rocket science’ and wondered what rockets have to do with the situation? 🚀
This colloquial expression is used when we want to convey that ‘something isn’t that difficult to understand or do’, meaning ‘it’s not a big deal’. 💡 🤯
In Portuguese, the expression goes like this ‘não é um bicho de sete cabeças‘.
Quick Portuguese tip: pelo amor de Deus
In English, the expression ‘for crying out loud’ can be used in situations of impatience, anger, or frustration. As an alternative to the phrase ‘for God’s sake or for Godness’ sake,’ it functions like ‘pelo amor de Deus’ in Portuguese.
It could easily be used by the character Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), portrayed as a powerful and demanding figure known for her coldness and direct management style in the movie The Devil Wears Prada (2006). 👠
Quick Portuguese tip: antes tarde do que nunca
In the movie The Intern (2015), there’s a scene where Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) decides to create his Facebook profile. His boss, Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway), then comments, ‘better late than never.’
In Portuguese, the expression is ‘antes tarde do que nunca’.
Quick Portuguese tip: abandonar o barco
The expression ‘abandonar o barco’ literally means ‘to abandon the boat’, and it refers to giving up on a situation or project that isn’t going well.
For instance, if a team is losing a game with no chance of a comeback, some fans might decide to ‘abandon ship’ and leave early. It’s a way of acknowledging that sticking around may not be worth it.
Quick Portuguese tip: já deu por hoje
Quite often, executives must deal with tight deadlines or last-minute changes. This can lead to long working hours.
However, as much as we might want to keep going, there comes a moment in the day when it’s necessary to wrap things up.
In English, the idiomatic expression that best represents this is ‘call it a day.’ In Portuguese, it would be ‘já deu por hoje’.
So, whether you’re chatting with friends or presenting in a boardroom, embracing these expressions is key to sounding more like a native speaker and effectively conveying your message.
Which is your favorite expression? Let us know in the comment section below.