Portuguese Idioms and Their Meanings

Front

Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura

Back

Persistence pays off

Front

Pôr a mão na massa

Back

To get to work or take action

Front

Chutar o balde

Back

To give up or stop caring

Front

Pagar o pato

Back

To take the blame for something you didn’t do

Front

Quem não chora, não mama

Back

If you don’t ask, you don’t get

Front

Estar com a macaca

Back

To be in a bad mood or behaving aggressively

Front

Ficar de mãos abanando

Back

To end up with nothing

Front

É pra inglês ver

Back

Something done only for show or appearance

Front

Encher linguiça

Back

To waste time or fill up space with unnecessary things

Front

Fazer vaquinha

Back

To chip in money for something