Portuguese is a rich language full of creative and funny expressions. These sayings are used in Brazil, Portugal, and other Portuguese-speaking countries. They show how Portuguese speakers use humor and imagination to describe everyday situations. Here are 10 amazing Portuguese expressions that will help you understand the culture better.

1. Engolir sapos

“Engolir sapos”

Meaning: To put up with something unpleasant or annoying without complaining. When you swallow frogs, you accept bad things that happen to you.

Equivalents:

• English: To grin and bear it / To swallow your pride
• Dutch: Je tanden op elkaar zetten
• French: Ravaler sa fierté
• German: In den sauren Apfel beißen
• Spanish: Tragarse el orgullo

2. Dar com os burros n’água

“Dar com os burros n’água”

Meaning: To fail completely in what you were trying to do. When you lead donkeys to water but they don’t drink, your plan didn’t work at all.

Equivalents:

• English: To come to nothing / To fall flat
• Dutch: Compleet mislukken
• French: Tomber à l’eau
• German: Ins Wasser fallen
• Spanish: Irse al traste

3. Falar pelos cotovelos

“Falar pelos cotovelos”

Meaning: To talk too much or be very talkative. When someone talks through their elbows, they never stop talking!

Equivalents:

• English: To talk someone’s ear off / To be a chatterbox
• Dutch: Een kletskous zijn
• French: Avoir la langue bien pendue
• German: Reden wie ein Wasserfall
• Spanish: Hablar por los codos

4. Estar com a pulga atrás da orelha

“Estar com a pulga atrás da orelha”

Meaning: To be suspicious or worried about something. When you have a flea behind your ear, it bothers you and makes you uncomfortable.

Equivalents:

• English: To smell a rat / To be suspicious
• Dutch: Onraad ruiken
• French: Avoir la puce à l’oreille
• German: Lunte riechen
• Spanish: Mosquearse

5. Pisar em ovos

“Pisar em ovos”

Meaning: To be very careful in a delicate situation. When you walk on eggs, you must be gentle or they will break.

Equivalents:

• English: To walk on eggshells
• Dutch: Op eieren lopen
• French: Marcher sur des œufs
• German: Wie auf Eiern gehen
• Spanish: Andar pisando huevos

6. Dormir no ponto

“Dormir no ponto”

Meaning: To miss an opportunity because you were not paying attention. Like falling asleep at the bus stop and missing your bus.

Equivalents:

• English: To miss the boat / To snooze and lose
• Dutch: De boot missen
• French: Rater le coche
• German: Den Anschluss verpassen
• Spanish: Perder el tren

7. Quebrar o galho

“Quebrar o galho”

Meaning: To help someone solve a problem or get out of trouble. When you break the branch, you help someone who is stuck.

Equivalents:

• English: To help out / To lend a hand
• Dutch: Iemand uit de brand helpen
• French: Dépanner quelqu’un
• German: Jemandem aus der Patsche helfen
• Spanish: Echar una mano

8. Chutar o balde

“Chutar o balde”

Meaning: To give up on something or lose your temper. When you kick the bucket, you stop trying and let your feelings explode.

Equivalents:

• English: To throw in the towel / To lose it
• Dutch: De handdoek in de ring gooien
• French: Jeter l’éponge
• German: Die Flinte ins Korn werfen
• Spanish: Tirar la toalla

9. Pagar o pato

“Pagar o pato”

Meaning: To take the blame for something you didn’t do. When you pay for the duck, you get punished for someone else’s mistake.

Equivalents:

• English: To take the rap / To be the fall guy
• Dutch: De gebakken peren opeten
• French: Payer les pots cassés
• German: Den Kopf hinhalten
• Spanish: Pagar el pato

10. Estar na pindaíba

“Estar na pindaíba”

Meaning: To be broke or have no money. Pindaíba is a Brazilian fruit that poor people ate when they had nothing else, so being in pindaíba means being very poor.

Equivalents:

• English: To be broke / To be strapped for cash
• Dutch: Blut zijn
• French: Être fauché
• German: Pleite sein
• Spanish: Estar sin blanca

Why Portuguese Expressions Are So Creative

Portuguese expressions often use animals, body parts, and everyday objects in funny ways. Many come from Brazilian culture, but they are understood across the Portuguese-speaking world. These sayings show how Portuguese speakers see life with humor and creativity.

Learning these expressions will help you understand Portuguese movies, songs, and conversations better. Portuguese speakers will be impressed when you use these colorful sayings naturally!

Try to remember a few of these expressions. Next time you speak Portuguese, surprise people with your knowledge of these fun and creative sayings. You’ll sound more like a native speaker and show that you really understand Portuguese culture!