"Speak English as Americans do"

Forewarning: This page was specifically created for Brazilian ESL students.

BALONEY: Conversa fiada
Baloney! I don't believe a word he says.

DROP EVERYTHING: Largar tudo
Please, drop everything and let's go there.

TO HORN IN SOMEBODY'S JOB: Se meter no trabalho de alguém
I wouldn't like anybody horning in my job.

TO BACK OFF: Dar pra trás
She backed off at the last minute.

TO MESS WITH SOMEBODY'S HEAD: Mexer com a cabeça
I was on my way at University until a professor messed with my head.

TO WISE UP: Ficar esperto
I tell them to wise up.

TO HAVE TO CUT A FEW CORNERS TO: Dar um jeitinho
We have had to cut a few corners to get our visa ready in time.

THAT'S YOUR LOSS: O problema é seu
I am a big girl now. If you don't accept me as I am, that's your loss

TO TAKE IT INTO SOMEBODY'S HEAD TO: Por na cabeça
He has met her once and now he's taken it into his head to ask her to marry him

TO MAKE A MOVE: Chegar numa garota ou cara
Why don't you make a move at her?

CAKE: grana (dinheiro)
We always go out together but I am the only one with the cake.

DOUGH: grana (dinheiro)
Give me the dough!

TO BE MILES AWAY: Estar viajando (distraído)
I am sorry. I haven't listen to what you have said. I was miles away.

THE COAST IS CLEAR: A barra tá limpa
Hey guys, come over here. The coast is clear!

WHEN THE MOOD STRIKES SOMEBODY: Quando me dá na telha
I study when the mood strikes me!

TO FIT IN: Se entrosar
She is having a hard time to fit in. Poor girl!

A BLAST: Da hora
The party was a blast!

TO BE DEAD: Estar perdido
If he recognizes me, I am dead.

TO MAKE OUT: Se virar
How am I going to make out alone?

YOU DON'T KNOW ME FROM ADAM: Você nunca me viu mais gorda
You don't know me from Adam but I will introduce myself.

SHAKE YOUR LEGS: Anda logo
Shake your legs! I am in a hurry!

JINXED: Pé frio
I can't get into the car without it breaking down.
I am beginning to think I am jinxed.

TO WRECK: Detonar
He doesn't know how to drive. He is going to wreck your car.

DON'T KID YOURSELF: Não se engane
Don't kid yourself. In the end, he will show his true colors

TO SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS: Mostrar quem você realmente é
Sooner or later he will show his true colors. Just wait and see

TO BE TORN BETWEEN (SOMETHING) AND (SOMETHING ELSE): Estar dividido entre uma coisa e outra.
I am torn between wanting to be with him and taking his wonderful opportunity

TO DIG: Curtir (gostar)
I go out with her very often because I dig her.

YOU WERE OVER THE LINE: Você chutou o pau da barraca.
You were over the line. You should not have said that

TO FEED (SOMEBODY) A LINE: Passar a conversa em alguém.
He fed her a line and they slept together.

TO PLAY THE FIELD: "Galinhar".
She has been playing the field. What a shame!

TO TAKE A BIT OF THE WIND OUT OF MY SAILS: Tirar o barato
That comment took a bit of the wind out of my sails

IN PLAIN LANGUAGE: Pra falar o português claro
They like to talk about other people's lives. In plain language, they like to gossip

TO WORK YOUR TAIL/BUTT OFF: Ralar (trabalhar bastante)
I worked my butt off and is that what I get???!!!

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