the hot goddess

Portuguese Sass in Midlife

It became apparent that I was a child prodigy in sass well before I turned 5. My parents were not proud of my gifted ability. Now, as a 65-year-old language-learner living in Portugal, I feel immense pride in my burgeoning skills in Portuguese sass.

Sassy sayings are my language.

Image source: Unknown

Idioms in any language are always challenging for language learners, but nothing makes one sound like a local to native speakers as much as an appropriately used sassy idiom. As I have been a bit of a grump lately, I’m getting no small amount of pleasure learning to throw these nine delightful Portuguese phrases into my rants arguments conversations.

Pão Pão Queijo Queijo

Literal translation: Bread bread cheese cheese

Meaning: To speak directly, without mincing words or beating around the bush.

Usage: “When I say I’m too old to pretend I like you, that’s just the truth. I always speak pão pão queijo queijo.”

Não é a Minha Praia

Literal translation: It’s not my beach.

Meaning: It’s not my thing. I’m not into it.

Usage: “Oh hell no. I am not on Facebook, much less a member of any Facebook group. This group mess não é a minha praia.”

Alimentar um Burro a Pão de Lo

Literal translation: To feed an ass/a donkey sponge cake.

Meaning: To treat someone better than they deserve.

Usage: “I think people who don’t leash their dogs should be fined and required to do community service in animal shelters. But no, there’s never any consequence. Alimentamos um burro a pão de lo.”

Ficar a Ver Navios

Literal translation: To stay watching ships.

Meaning: To be left waiting in vain.

Usage: “If you are waiting for me to apologize for swinging my steel bat at your loose dog when he started running at me, you will ficar a ver navios.”

Muitos Anos a Virar Frangos

Literal translation: Many years of turning chickens.

Meaning: To have many years of experience.

Usage: “Oh, I see. You clearly have muitos anos a virar frangos in assholery.”

Barata Tonta

Literal translation: Dizzy cockroach.

Meaning: Someone who is disorganized, disoriented. Running around like a headless chicken.

Usage: “I feel like a barata tonta trying to stay on top of these changing immigration requirements while weeding out the rumors and whiners.”

A Pensar Morreu um Burro. Decide-Te!

Literal translation: An ass/a donkey died thinking. Make a decision!

Meaning: Stop overthinking and make up your mind!

Usage: “OMG, girl! Are you going to book your birthday trip to Australia and New Zealand or not? Yeah, I know. The fastest routes from Portugal fly through Middle Eastern airspace, and Israel’s crazy attack on Doha has you reconsidering flights through Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. But you have other options. A pensar morreu um burro. Decide-te!”

Ficar em Águas de Bacalhau

Literal translation: To stay in cod waters.

Meaning: To fail or fall through.

Usage: “Yes, but what if my residency renewal fica em águas de bacalhau? Then what?”

És uma Cabeça de Alho Chocho!

Literal translation: You’re a head of rotten garlic!

Meaning: You’re a dumbass.

Usage: Way too many to list here.

Which one is your favorite?

Thank you for reading ❤️. Here’s to a sassy weekend.

A minha praia é definitivamente a minha praia!
My beach is definitely my thing!

The Hot Goddess

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36 comments

  4. Hehe, I love them all! Good for you for learning the local idioms. Love those insults that aren’t crude but certainly get the point across!

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  7. The Portugal Tourism Bureau should really be paying you a fee Natalie. The pictures of the beautiful beaches are one thing. Your stories of the beautiful kind people are another. But to learn they love their sass and sarcasm. Oh, I’m in. A dizzy cockroach. To feed an ass/a donkey sponge cake. You’re a head of rotten garlic! Oh I think I need to schedule my trip today! These are awesome. Thank you so much for sharing. I might have to try these out now. At least there’s a good chance that the people I “aim” them at, won’t know I mean. Ha, ha.

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