A Month of Idioms

August 2020
1. To have an ace up someone’s sleeve: ter uma carta na manga

This expression literally comes from the practice of cheating at cards where one player hides an ace up his sleeve in
order to give himself a better hand when he needs it. In most games, the ace is one of the best cards to have, so having
an extra ace hidden up your sleeve can make it easier for you two win.

As an everyday expression, we use this when we know that someone has a hidden trick, advantage, or strategy, but isn’t
necessarily cheating.

Examples:

The team seemed to be losing the game, but the coach still had an ace up his sleeve: his secret weapon, Jimmy, the
fastest runner on the team.

I’m not giving up yet; I still have an ace up my sleeve: I know where his campaign donations came from.

2. Someone’s Achilles Heel: ter o calcanhar de Aquiles

This expression comes from ancient Greek Mythology. The hero Achilles was impervious to injury on any part of his body
except for one of his heels (the back part of his foot).

We use this expression to show something that makes us vulnerable or a temptation that we can’t resist: a weakness.

Examples:

She tried to say, “No,” but her kids knew that crying was her Achilles heel. So, they always go their way.

I’m supposed to be on a diet, but sweets are my Achilles heel, and I can never resist a piece of cake.

3. Across the board: em todo caso

The phrase originated in America and referred to a kind of bet placed in horse racing. An "across the board" wager was
one in which equal amounts are bet on the same horse to win, place, or show.

We use this when we observe an equal and repeated action in all cases, or when we perform such an action. You can
also say “all across the board.”

Examples:

He studied so hard this semester that he got A’s across the board.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get a new assistant. The interviews have been disasters all across the board.

4. Actions speak louder than words: ações falam mais alto do que palavras

This expression is always said in anger, disappointment, contempt, or as a challenge. This refers to a situation where
someone has disappointed you, lied to you, or in some way has not met your expectations, and now you no longer trust
them. This can also be used when you doubt the sincerity or resolve of the person you are speaking to.

Examples:

“I swear I’ll never cheat again! Just give me another chance!”

“Actions speak louder than words.”

No matter how much he pleaded with her, she knew that actions always speak louder than words.

5. All kidding/joking aside: sem piadinha por enquanto

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We use this when we want to change the mood from relaxed to one that’s more serious. Usually after someone
continues to joke or mess around instead of doing what they should. You can even use this to refer to yourself.

Examples:

Oh, ha ha, very funny guys. But, all kidding aside, this paper’s due tomorrow. So, let’s get to work.

“Excuse me, can I have your autograph?”

“DAD!!!!”
“Ok, ok. All joking aside, you did a great job sweetheart. I’m so proud of you.”

6. To be at someone’s wits’ end: já não sei mais o que fazer. Acredita?

The word “wits” is another way of saying “intelligence.” However, this word is usually only used when we are talking
about someone’s problem solving skills. So, if you are at your wits’ end, then you don’t know what to do about a
situation despite multiple attempts to resolve it or after a long deliberation.

Examples:

My dog keeps peeing on the carpet, and I’m at my wits’ end. I’ve tried everything.

No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t figure out the equation. She was at her wits’ end.

7. At the drop of a hat: desprevenido, sem aviso previu

To do something without notice or warning. Think of when the wind blows, and your hat falls off. It’s that same kind of
feeling.

We use this when we want to show our surprise or frustration at an abrupt action.

Examples:

He showed up last night and expected me to just marry him at the drop of a hat, just like that!

I worked my whole life for this business, and at the drop of a hat it was gone.

8. To be at the end of one’s rope: estar no fundo do poço

Imagine you’re trying to climb down the side of cliff. The only thing you have to help you is a rope, but the rope is too
short. Once you reach the end of the rope, there’s nowhere else to go.

We use this expression to either show that we have run out options or patience with a situation.

Examples:

John was at the end of his rope after he lost his job.

I’m at the end of my rope with these kids! They never do what they’re told.

9. To go/be back at/to square one: estamos de volta à estaca zero.

In board games there’s usually a single square or staring position for all of the players. So, going back to square one
means starting all over again, and it’s never a good feeling.

Examples:

After coronavirus, many businesses are back at square one.

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We went to marriage counseling, but we got divorced anyway, and now I have to go back to square one and start my life
all over again.

10. To go back to the drawing board: começar o plano do zero de novo

When something like a car is designed, it usually begins as a sketch on a large board for the other designers to look at.
So, going back to the drawing board means to start a project over again from the planning stage.

Like “back to square one”, this is never used in positive context. It’s always very frustrating to have to start over again,
but unlike ​square one,​ this is much more specific and does not refer to restarting your entire life, relationship, or career
over: just the thing you were working on.

Examples:

The car engine kept overheating, so it was back to the drawing board for the designers.

I didn’t get the score I needed on the SAT to get into Harvard, so I guess it’s back to the drawing board for me.

(NOTE: always use FOR + the person who needs to start over after this expression.)

11. To have one’s back against the wall: colocar alguém contra a parede

If you’re walking down an alley and someone tries to rob you, they’ll likely try to push you somewhere where no one can
see you with your back against the wall of the building. We have the same feeling of helplessness when we use this
expression because we think that we have no other options and our situation is dangerous or even hopeless.

Examples:

When your back’s against the wall, you just gotta keep fighting.

We lost our jobs, our car, and our insurance. Now the banks are coming for our house and our backs are against the wall.

12. To give someone a backhanded compliment: elogio falso

This expression actually comes from a time when a person’s left hand was seen as only being used for wicked deeds. So,
the “backhand” is referring to a person’s left hand and giving someone a compliment with their left hand must have an
ulterior motive.

Examples:

​ nique​ performance. I just know I’ll n

“Oh hey, Jane. That was such a u ​ ever​ forget it.”
“Oh thanks…that was a backhanded compliment if ever I heard one.”

To say that someone has a “good/great/nice personality” when asked about their looks, is usually a backhanded
compliment.

13. To be a back-seat driver

We use this when a passenger in a car tries to control all of the actions of the driver.

Examples:

“Take a left here. I SAID TAKE A LEFT! SLOW DOWN YOU’RE GOING TO FAST! WATCH OUT FOR THE DOG!”
“I KNOW DAD!!! I have my license, you know?! God, stop being such a back-seat driver!”

Most parents are guilty of being back-seat drivers with their teenage kids.
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(NOTE: this expression could be used figuratively to describe a controlling person, but it usually isn’t.)

14. To have bad blood: guardar mágoa

The idea of bad blood comes from the ancient misconception that blood somehow controlled people’s emotions. So,
having bad blood meant harboring anger or resentment against someone or a group of people.

Examples:

In Romeo and Juliet, their families, The Montagues and the Capulets, had a lot of bad blood between them.

It’s not uncommon for there to be some bad blood after a divorce.

15. To bark up the wrong tree: brigar com a pessoa errada

Dogs can sometimes get confused and chase something that isn’t there or got away without them noticing it, and that’s
where this expression comes from.

We use this when we want to show frustration with someone or if we want to point out the uselessness of their actions.

Examples:

Dan kept trying to get Carol to go out with him, but he was barking up the wrong tree because she was actually a lesbian.

My sister tired to convince me to join her MLM, but I told her she was barking up the wrong tree. I’ve already seen that
documentary.

16. To beat a dead horse: dando a cara a tapa

If something is dead, it’s useless to hit it to try and make it move or do what you want. So, we use this expression when
we want to show that someone keeps trying to do something that has already proven to be a waste of time. The
difference between this and “to bark up the wrong tree” is that in this idiom the person has already been proven to be
wrong or what they have tried isn’t working. With the dog analogy, the person is mistaken and doesn’t realize it.

Examples:

He took out another loan to try and save his business, but at that point he was just beating a dead horse.

I’ve tried so many times to fix this car that I feel like I’m just beating a dead horse now.

17. To beat around the bush: encher linguíça

If you’re hunting and you think there might be something inside, you might hit the sides of the bush to coax the animal
out. This expression is similar. The person speaking does not want to risk speaking too directly, so they “beat around the
bush” to stall or to cause another person to come to the desired conclusion without the speaking having to take
responsibility themselves.

Examples:

I just wanted him to explain to me what happened to my car, but he kept beating around the bush so much that I knew
something terrible must have happened.

I always beat around the bush when it comes to things like money, relationships, and politics. That’s just how I was
raised.

18. (To hit someone) below the belt: dar um golpe baixo
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The area below someone’s belt is very sensitive, and in boxing and other types of fighting, it’s considered to be unfair to
hit someone in that area. So, we use this expression to show that someone didn’t fight or treat someone fairly.

Examples:

You can say whatever you want about me, but that’s really hitting below the belt when you insult my kids.

Wow, I can’t believe you went there. That was way below the belt.

19. To be beside oneself: ficar fora de si

We use this expression when we are so upset about something that you seem like a different person.

Examples:

When my dad died, I was beside myself with grief.

After the accident, my mom was beside herself for a long time.

20. Beside the point: nada a ver

We use this expression when we want to point out that what someone said is not relevant.

Examples:

I’d really like to go to Rome next year, but that’s beside the point. I need to finish school first.

​ eed​ is to finish school.

What you want is beside the point. What you n

21. Bet one’s bottom dollar

Your bottom dollar is you last dollar. So, this is a bet that you can be sure will pay off. We use this to show that we are
certain about something happening, and we want to reassure the other person that it will work out as we said it would.

Examples:

I’d bet my bottom dollar that he gets elected.

Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there’ll be sun.

22. Between a rock and a hard place: entre a espada e a cruz

In philosophy this is known as a dilemma, where neither option (or no options) seem(s) appealing. A rock ​is​ a hard place,
so this expression shows that both options are more or less equally bad: a tough situation.

Examples:

Losing your job or losing your house: you’re between a rock and hard place my friend.

In life we often find ourselves between a rock and a hard place, and we just have to do what we think is best at the time.

23. ​Beyond the pale: passer das contas

You’re likely to hear this expression all the time if you watch political news. It means to act outside of the bounds of
morality or socially acceptable behavior.

Examples:
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Refusing acknowledge the rights of all citizens is beyond the pale in this day and age.

I don’t know what else to say. He’s just beyond the pale after the crimes he’s committed.

24. To be a big fish in a small pond

In a puddle of water, a goldfish can seem pretty big, but put it in a lake and it seems tiny. So, we use this expression
when we want to show that a person has outgrown a situation or is only seen as important because of the limited nature
of their surroundings.

Examples:

When you’re the best student in a small school, it’s easy to feel like a big fish in a small pond.

My manager at McDonald’s thought that he was the king of the world until he got promoted, and then he realized that
he was just a big fish in a small pond when he saw how massive the company actually was.

25. Big Shot: chefão

We use this expression to describe someone who is very important, but it’s often used in negative contexts.

Examples:

You better watch what you say; I’m the big shot around here.

She thought she was such a big shot on the track team until she lost her final race.

26. Bird’s eye view: visão ampla

When a bird flies overhead they have a wide and expansive view of everything below them. We use this expression
usually in a literal way.

Examples:

The drone allows the user to have a bird’s eye view of the terrain below.

The apartment has many amenities, but best of all, it has a near bird’s eye view of the entire city.

27. To bite off more than one can chew: tentar abraçar o mundo com as pernas

This expression is pretty self-explanatory. If you take a bite of food that’s too big, you choke. We use this in a figurative
sense to show that the person cannot handle the situation that they’re in.

Examples:

I really fell in love with this house, but after a year of renovations, I’m seeing that bit off way more than I could chew.

First-time pet owners often bite off more than they can chew when it comes to purebreds.

28. To bite the bullet: encarar de frente ou aguentar firm

Before the days of anesthetics, people would bite down on something hard like a belt or a bullet shell to help distract
them from the pain of the procedure. Although, thankfully, we don’t have to deal with this anymore, the expression lives
on. We say this when we have to deal with a difficult situation, usually when it’s something we’ve been avoiding.

Examples:

It’s time to bite the bullet and tell my parents that I’m not going to take over the family business.
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Danielle had to bite the bullet and cancel her wedding after the National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning on
her wedding day.

29. Bite the dust: alguma coisa pifou

This simply means to die or when something is ruined beyond repair.

Examples:

My car finally bit the dust after many years of trying to fix it.

The seagull bit the dust after it flew into the side of the ship.

30. The black market: mercado negro

This is the place where illegal goods and services are sold. Nowadays, people might also look to the dark web to find
them. This is not necessarily a physical place, but more a system of illegal buying and selling.

Examples:

Exotic animals are usually sold on the black market.

The police raided the building that housed weapons that were being sold on the black market.