Natics Club 27/08

Learning with:
Brazilian Expressions

Let’s boost your English and learn brand-new vocabulary without getting lost in
translation!

Live Class
August 27, 2025th

Atente-se ao nível das sessões e ao horário de início das aulas!

• Lives gravadas;

• Revisões aos Sábados;

• Material na plataforma;

• Use o chat para tirar dúvidas

• Lives & Clubs

Lives & clubs são um complemento a todo o conteúdo que disponibilizamos na

plataforma, lembre-se de reservar um horário do seu dia para poder estudar.

Consistency is key!

Let’s Talk!

What is one Brazilian Portuguese expression you use all the time?
Have you ever tried translating a Brazilian saying into English? How did it sound?
Have you ever heard an English expression that confused you? Which one?

Translating Literally

When we speak another language, we often want to bring our own cultural flavor to
it.
The problem? Directly translating Brazilian expressions into English doesn’t always
work.
It might sound funny for us to say something like “kick the bucket”, “stay in sauce”
or even “pay the duck” amongst each other, but the truth is, when you’re abroad or
in an environment where there are no brazilians around, you will have to know how
to actually express yourself without translating things literally.

Knowing the right English equivalents will help you communicate clearly, avoid
misunderstandings, and sound more natural when you speak.
The world is full of idioms, and every culture has its own. The more you understand
how expressions translate (or don’t), the easier it will be to connect with people
abroad and express yourself confidently!

Daydreaming

Never say you’re “traveling in the mayonnaise”. When someone is distracted or

saying something that makes no sense, in English you say they’re “daydreaming” or
“out of it”.

He was totally daydreaming in class and didn’t hear a single word the teacher said.

To go south

Don’t say “the cow went to the swamp”. In English, you’d say “things went south”

The project was fine at first, but when the funding ended, everything went south.

Backfire

Instead of saying “it went out through the butt of the gun”, in English, you’d say
“backfired” when a plan goes south and hurts the one who made it.

He tried to make a joke about his boss, but it totally backfired and got him in
trouble.
To chip in

Although it’s way more fun to say “make a little cow”, the right way to refer to
everyone contributing money for something is “chip in”.

We all chipped in to buy a gift for our teacher.

Third wheel

Never say you’re “holding a candle” when you’re the awkward friend to a romantic
couple. In English, you say you are a “third wheel”.

Can we please invite more people? I don’t want to be a third wheel!

Checkpoint!
Time to review, did you get everything?

VIAJAR NA MAIONESE = DAYDREAM / TO BE OUT OF IT

A VACA IR PRO BREJO / DAR RUIM = GO SOUTH
O TIRO SAIU PELA CULATRA = IT BACKFIRED
FAZER UMA VAQUINHA = CHIP IN
SEGURAR VELA = BE A THIRD WHEEL

Rest up

Instead of saying “stay in the sauce”, say you have to “rest up” when you must stay
in bed all day and take it easy.

The doctor told him to stay in bed and rest up for a few days after the surgery.

Throw in the towel

Instead of saying “kick the bucket”(which actually means to die in English), say you
will “throw in the towel” when meaning giving up or losing patience.
Or even “let loose” when meaning going crazy, spending it all or caring less about
consequences.
After weeks of extra work with no recognition, she finally threw in the towel and quit
her job.
I’ve been on a crazy juice diet, this weekend I just want to let loose and eat a bunch
of pizza!

Take the fall

Instead of saying “pay the duck”, say someone has to “take the fall” or “take the
blame” when they’re punished for something they didn’t necessarily do.

The plan failed, and I had to take the fall, even though it wasn’t my fault.

Padding out

Instead of saying “stuff sausage”, say someone is “padding it out” or “stalling” when
they add unnecessary words or information to make something longer and
distracting.

The student didn’t know the answer, so he started padding it out with unnecessary
details.

Let the cat out of the bag

Definitely never say you’ve “given with the tongue on the teeth”. When trying to say
you’ve told a secret you shouldn’t (usually accidentally), say you’ve “spilled the
beans” or “let the cat out of the bag”!

He wasn’t supposed to say anything, but he spilled the beans about the surprise
birthday gift.

Checkpoint!
Time to review, did you get everything?

ENROLAR = STALL
ENCHER LINGUIÇA = PAD OUT
CHUTAR O BALDE (desistir) = THROW IN THE TOWEL
CHUTAR O BALDE (se soltar) = LET LOOSE
BATER AS BOTAS = KICK THE BUCKET
FICAR DE MOLHO = REST UP
DAR COM A LÍNGUA NOS DENTES = SPILL THE BEANS / LET THE CAT OUT OF
THE BAG
PAGAR O PATO = TAKE THE FALL / TAKE THE BLAME

Talk someone’s ear off

Don't say someone "speaks through their elbows" when they talk a lot, instead,
simply say they "talk you ear off".

He can talk your ear off about his favorite TV shows, don't ask him about it if you
don't have three hours on your day.

Hit the nail on the head

Instead of using "hit the fly", you can say "hit the nail on the head" when you get
something exactly right!

Your analysis hit the nail on the head—that’s exactly the problem.

A Cheapskate

Definitely don't call somebody "hard bread" or "hand of cow" just because they
don't spend a lot of money, say they are "cheap", "cheapskate" or even "stingy".

John is a cheapskate. He doesn't like spending his money.

Don’t get (your) hopes up

Don’t say you’ll “take the little horse out of the rain”. In English, say “don’t get your
hopes up” when someone expects something that won’t happen.

If you think he’ll lend you money, don’t get your hopes up. You know how cheap he
is.
On Cloud Nine

Instead of saying you are "walking on the clouds" when very happy, simply switch it
up a little and say you are "on cloud nine".

She was on cloud nine when she found out she got the job!

Make do with what (you) have

Don’t say “who doesn’t have a dog hunts with a cat” either. In English, we say we
"make do with what you have".

We didn’t have a projector, so we just used a laptop for the presentation — we had
to make do with what we had.

Last checkpoint!
Did you take note of everything?

FALAR PELOS COTOVELOS = TALK SOMEONE'S EAR OFF

ACERTAR NA MOSCA = HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
PÃO DURO / MÃO DE VACA = CHEAPSKATE / CHEAP / STINGY
TIRE O CAVALINHO DA CHUVA = DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP
ANDANDO NAS NUVENS = ON CLOUD NINE
QUEM NÃO TEM CÃO CAÇA COM GATO = MAKE DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Lastly, let’s take a look at some that the same or very similar as Portuguese, to
make things easier on you!

Give someone a hand – help someone

Thanks for giving me a hand with the heavy boxes.

Cry over spilled milk – waste time on past mistakes.

It’s no use crying over spilled milk. What's done is done, try to move on.

The grass is always greener on the other side – other people’s lives always seem
better than yours.
She quit her job thinking the new one would be easier, but it wasn’t — the grass is
always greener.
Some more expressions that the same or very similar as Portuguese:

Kill two birds with one stone (not bunnies!) – solve two problems with one action
I checked my emails while walking the dog, so I killed two birds with one stone.

It’s a small world – for unexpected coincidences that make the world feel smaller.
We met in Paris, then saw each other again in New York — it’s a small world!

Let’s practice!
Let’s see if you really got everything... Complete the sentence using the correct
expression:

1. Our plans started to ___ _________ when our flight got delayed.

2. If everyone ________ __ with a little money, we can buy her a nice gift.

3. Stop __________ during the meeting, or you’ll miss important details.

4. I felt like a total _____ ______ when my friend brought her boyfriend to dinner.

5. Even though it wasn’t his fault, he agreed to ______ ___ _______ for the mistake.

Let’s practice!
Very good! Here’s the answer key:

1. Our plans started to go south when our flight got delayed.

2. If everyone chips in with a little money, we can buy her a nice gift.

3. Stop daydreaming during the meeting, or you’ll miss important details.

4. I felt like a total third wheel when my friend brought her boyfriend to dinner.

5. Even though it wasn’t his fault, he agreed to take the blame for the mistake.

Just a few more! Can you complete these?

1. We don’t have all the ingredients, so we’ll just have to _____ __ _____ ______ __ ____ for
tonight’s dinner.

2. When he found out he won the competition, he was __ _____ ____.

 3. Can you ____ __ _ ____ with moving this furniture? I can’t lift everything alone.

4. It sucks that you lost your keys, but there’s no use _______ _____ _______ ____. Just find a
spare.

5. You might like the job, but ____ ___ ____ ______ __ until you get the official offer.

6. By picking up groceries on the way home from the gym, I can ____ ___ ____ _____ ___
_____!

Well done indeed! Here are the answers:

1. We don’t have all the ingredients, so we’ll just have to make do with what we
have for tonight’s dinner.

2. When he found out he won the competition, he was on cloud nine.

3. Can you give me a hand with moving this furniture? I can’t lift everything
alone.

4. It sucks that you lost your keys, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk. Just
find a spare.

5. You might like the job, but don’t get your hopes up until you get the official
offer.

6. By picking up groceries on the way home from the gym, I can kill two birds
with one stone!

To sum up…
We’ve learned many different expressions today... Now you know that even if things
go south sometimes, you can’t throw in the towel — keep practicing and you’ll be
on cloud nine speaking confidently like a native soon.
Remember, sometimes we have to make do with what we have, but the grass isn't
always greener, keep learning and keep practicing!
It's not such a small world after all!
Aula demonstrativa gratuita
Quer um professor particular para acelerar seu aprendizado de forma
individualizada?
Conte com o Natics Prime!
https://bit.ly/naticsclubfreeprivateclass

Natics News
Seu portal de notícias e conteúdo Natics, onde você pode ficar mais próximo do
seu objetivo e do seu futuro de sucesso!
https://bit.ly/naticsnews

WHAT’S NEXT?
YOU GETTING CLOSER TO FLUENCY!

28/08 - Self-improvement: Talking About Our Country in English

30/08 - Weekly Review