Idiomatic Expressions in English and Portuguese

An idiomatic expression is a group of words that are metaphorically used to express ideas
in an easier way. Every country and its different geographic areas have their own expressions that
are commonly used by the people. Idioms are so deeply rooted in our culture that sometimes it is
almost impossible to express some ideas without using them, but when translating these
expressions into another language they do not make any sense, as they cannot be construed by a
literal meaning.

It takes more than grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation practice to build up fluency in
English as a second language, it is also necessary to be able to use and understand when a
native English speaker uses colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions. However, learning them
can be a tricky challenge, as there are thousands out there and they can change from country to
country. Although, there is a list of idioms that can be considered universal in the English
language. Below follows a brief list of expressions that are common in Portuguese as well as in
English:

To make a mountain out of a mole hill = fazer tempestade num copo dgua

E.g. I was late only ten minutes, but he made it a mountain out of a mole hill and yelled at me in
front of the crowd.

To stick your nose into = meter a colher

E.g. You should not stick your nose in a couples fight.

I cross my heart! = Palavra de honra!

E.g. Trust me, I will help you with your problem. I cross my heart!

Speak of the devil = Falando no diabo

E.g. Hi, Paul, speak of the devil, I was just telling Mary about your new car.

A piece of cake = Mamo com acar

E.g. The English test was a piece of cake. I got 10 out of 10.
To kill two birds with one stone = matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada s

E.g. By taking my dad on holiday, I killed two birds with one stone. I got to go away but also spend
time with him.

To know by heart = saber de cr e salteado

E.g. I know all The Beatles songs by heart.

To have nothing but the best = ter do bom e do melhor

E.g. That girl is the presidents daughter. She has nothing but the best.

To take a nap = tirar uma soneca

E.g. I am so tired, I need to take a nap!

To cost an arm and a leg = custar o olho da cara

E.g. That Gucci bag costs an arm and a leg!

Not my cup of tea = no minha praia

E.g. Watching soap operas is not my cup of tea.

Once and for all = de uma vez por todas

E.g. He should tell her the truth once and for all.

Its none of your business = no da sua conta

E.g. Stop asking me so many questions, my personal life is none of your business!

Twos company, threes a crowd = um pouco, dois bom, trs demais

E.g. We should not take Claire to our trip, twos company, threes a crowd.

To wake up on the wrong side of the bed = acordar com o p esquerdo

E.g. John is very stressed today, he probably woke up on the wrong side of the bed!
 As can be seen above, it is not possible to use automatic translating tools when translating
idioms. In addition, the non-native English speaker may not think in its own mother language when
cogitating to use an idiomatic expression, unless he/she is willing to explain the sentence
meaning. It is also important to remember that idiomatic expressions are used in informal
situations only.

Caroline Lopes Bernardino de Lima

4ALEN 2015
 Expresses Idiomticas em Ingls e Portugus

Uma expresso idiomtica um grupo de palavras usado metaforicamente para expressar

ideias de maneira mais fcil. Cada pas e suas diferentes regies tm as suas prprias
expresses, que so comumente usadas por seu povo. Expresses idiomticas esto to
profundamente enraizadas em nossa cultura que s vezes quase impossvel expressar algumas
ideias sem us-las, mas ao traduzir essas expresses para outra lngua elas podem no fazer
sentido algum, uma vez que no podem ser interpretadas de modo literal.

preciso mais do que gramtica, vocabulrio e pronncia para construir fluncia em Ingls
como segunda lngua, tambm necessrio ser capaz de usar e entender quando um falante
nativo de Ingls usa coloquialismos e expresses idiomticas. No entanto, aprend-las pode ser
um desafio complicado, pois alm de existirem milhares, elas podem mudar de pas para pas. No
entanto, h uma lista de expresses idiomticas que podem ser consideradas universais no
idioma Ingls. Abaixo segue uma breve lista de expresses que so comuns em Portugus,
assim como em Ingls:

To make a mountain out of a mole hill = fazer tempestade num copo dgua

Ex. I was late only ten minutes, but he made it a mountain out of a mole hill and yelled at me in
front of the crowd.

PT: Eu atrasei apenas dez minutos, mas ele fez uma tempestade num copo dgua e gritou
comigo na frente da multido.

To stick your nose into = meter a colher

Ex. You should not stick your nose in a couples fight.

PT: Em briga de marido e mulher no se mete a colher.

I cross my heart! = Palavra de honra!

Ex. Trust me, I will help you with your problem. I cross my heart!

PT: Confie em mim, te ajudarei com seu problema. Palavra de honra!

Speak of the devil = Falando no diabo

Ex. Hi, Paul, speak of the devil, I was just telling Mary about your new car.

PT: Ol, Paulo! Falando do diabo eu estava conversando com Maria sobre seu novo carro!

A piece of cake = Mamo com acar

Ex. The English test was a piece of cake. I got 10 out of 10.

PT: A prova de Ingls foi mamo com acar. Tirei 10!

To kill two birds with one stone = matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada s

Ex. By taking my dad on holiday, I killed two birds with one stone. I got to go away but also spend
time with him.

PT: Saindo de frias com meu pai matei dois coelhos com uma cajadada s. Tive a chance de
relaxar longe de casa e passar tempo com ele.

To know by heart = saber de cr e salteado

Ex. I know all The Beatles songs by heart.

PT: Sei todas as msicas do Beatles de cr e salteado.

To have nothing but the best = ter do bom e do melhor

Ex. That girl is the presidents daughter. She has nothing but the best.

PT: Aquela menina filha do presidente. Sempre teve tudo do bom e do melhor.

To take a nap = tirar uma soneca

Ex. I am so tired, I need to take a nap!

PT: Estou to cansado, preciso tirar uma soneca!

To cost an arm and a leg = custar o olho da cara

Ex. That Gucci bag costs an arm and a leg!

PT: Esta bolsa da Gucci custa o olho da cara!

Not my cup of tea = no minha praia

Ex. Watching soap operas is not my cup of tea.

PT: Novelas no so minha praia.

Once and for all = de uma vez por todas

Ex. He should tell her the truth once and for all.

PT: Ele deveria contra a verdade a ela de uma vez por todas.

Its none of your business = no da sua conta

Ex. Stop asking me so many questions, my personal life is none of your business!

PT: Pare de me fazer tantas perguntas, minha vida pessoal no da sua conta!

Twos company, threes a crowd = um pouco, dois bom, trs demais

Ex. We should not take Claire to our trip, twos company, threes a crowd.

PT: Ns no deveramos levar a Clara conosco. Um pouco, dois bom, trs demais!

To wake up on the wrong side of the bed = acordar com o p esquerdo

Ex. John is very stressed today, he probably woke up on the wrong side of the bed!

PT: Joo est muito estressado hoje. Ele provavelmente acordou com o p esquerdo!

Como pode ser visto acima, no possvel usar ferramentas automticas ao traduzir
expresses idiomticas. Alm disso, os falantes no nativos no podem pensar em sua prpria
lngua materna quando cogitarem usar uma expresso idiomtica, a menos que ele esteja
disposto a explicar o significado da mesma. tambm importante recordar que as expresses
idiomticas so utilizadas apenas em situaes informais.

Caroline Lopes Bernardino de Lima

4ALEN 2015
References:

http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/idiomatic-expressions.html

http://www.englishtown.com.br/blog/15-expressoes-idiomaticas-comuns-em-ingles/

http://thelanguageclub.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/500-Express%C3%B5es-
Idiom%C3%A1ticas-em-Ingl%C3%AAs.pdf