COMMON POPULAR SAYINGS and SLANG
In Brazil, as in the rest of the world, there are many phrases used to express a situation. Here are: a) common expressions; b) popular sayings; and c) slang
Common Expressions
Perhaps no expressions capture the "essence" of Brazil as much as these two:
Quebrar o galho. (break the branch)
Dar um jeito (make a way).
Both have the same meaning: to help someone, often in the sense to get around some rule or regulation.
Popular Brazilian sayings, with their free translations.
Agua mole em pedra dura, tanto bate ate que fura.
Soft water on hard rock, hits it so much until it pierces.
Em boca fechada nao entra mosca.
In a closed mouth a fly never enters.
Quem nao tem cao caca com gato.
Who has no dog must hunt with a cat.
Se Maome nao vai a montanha, a montanha vai a Maome.
If Mohammed can't go to the mountain, the mountain must go to Mohammed.
Quando os gatos saem, os ratos sobem a mesa (ou, ..os ratos bricam)
When the cats go out, the rats come up to the table (or, the rats play)
Antes so' do que mal acompanhado.
Better alone than in bad company
A noite, todos os gatos sao pardos.
At night, all cats are gray.
Cavalo dado nao se olha os dentes.
(Of a) horse given (as a gift) one goes not look at its teeth.
Olho por olho, dente por dente.
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
Uma andorinha so', nao faz verao.
One sparrow alone does not make summer.
Mais vale um p ssaro na mao que dois voando.
One bird in the hand is worth two flying.
Quem com ferro fere, com ferro ser ferido.
Who hurts (another) with iron, with iron will be hurt.
Quem com porcos se mistura, farelos come.
Who with pigs mixes (gets together), crumbs (must) eat.
Para o bom entendedor, meia palavra basta
For the good "understander", half a word (is) enough.
Dorme com gato, acorda arranhado.
Sleep with a cat, awake scratched.
Nao confie em aguas paradas.
Don't trust still waters.<BR>
Em mulher nao se bate, nem com uma flor.
A woman shouldn't be hit, not even with a flower.
Querer nao e'poder.
Wanting to is not being able to.
Periquito come milho, papagaio leva fama.
Parakeet eats the corn, the parrot gets the fame.
Quem tem boca, vai a Roma.
Who has a mouth goes to Rome.
O pior cego, e' o que nao quer ver.
The worst blind man is one that doesn't want to see.
Melhor um cachorro amigo, do que um amigo cachorro.
Better a friendly dog, than a friend (who is a) dog.
De grao em grao, a galinha enche o papo.
Grain by grain, the chicken fills it's craw.
