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Translation glossary: American Slangs, Words & Phrases

Creator:
Jane Rezende
Jane Rezende
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(Not) My Cup of TeaSomeone or something that one finds to be unpleasant. 
English
A buck— Slang term for a the American dollar. 
English
A Chip on Your ShoulderBeing angry about something that happened in the past. 
English
A Dime a DozenSomething that is extremely common. 
English
A Fool and His Money are Soon PartedIt\'s easy for a fool to lose his/her money. 
English
All Greek To MeWhen something is incomprehensible due to complexity; unintelligble. 
English
An Arm and a LegSomething that is extremely expensive. 
English
Back to Square OneTo go back to the beginning; back to the drawing board. 
English
Back To the Drawing BoardStarting over again on a new design from a previously failed attempt. 
English
Bail— Intransitive verb for leaving abruptly. 
English
Barking Up The Wrong TreeTo make a wrong assumption about something. 
English
Beating a Dead HorseTo bring up an issue that has already been resolved. 
English
Beating Around the BushSomeone who is beating around the bush is someone who avoids the main point. 
English
bednightspernoites 
English to Portuguese
Between a Rock and a Hard PlaceBeing faced with two difficult choices. 
English
Birds of a Feather Flock TogetherPeople tend to associate with others who share similar interests or values. 
English
Bought the farm— ”I didn’t know he wanted to move to the country,” is how a British person might respond to hearing this phrase. At this point ‘bought the farm,’ is a general reference to untimely death. However, the phrase originates from WWII-era military accidents involving unreliable aircraft crashing into rural European countryside properties resulting in damages for which the U.S. government was responsible to pay, thereby, ‘buying the farm, 
English
Break The IceBreaking down a social stiffness. 
English
Burst Your BubbleTo ruin someone\'s happy moment. 
English
By the skin of (my/your/his/her) teeth— just barely. 
English
chip brushtrincha / pincel trincha 
English to Portuguese
company matchFundo de pensão 
English to Portuguese
Couch Potato— A lazy person who spends the bulk of their time engaged in things that can be done while sitting on a couch. 
English
Cram— To study feverishly before an exam typically done after neglecting to study consistently. 
English
Crash— To abruptly fall asleep, or to show up without invitation. 
English
Creep (n.)— An unpleasantly weird/strange person. 
English
Cut the bullshitCorta esse papo furado / Para de enrolação / Para de falar merda 
English to Portuguese
Don\'t Count Your Chickens Before They HatchDo not rely on something you are not sure of. 
English
Don\'t Look a Gift Horse In The MouthWhen you receive a gift from someone, do not be ungrateful. 
English
Down to earth— And adjective for practicality and lack of pretense. 
English
Down To EarthPractical or humble; unpretentious. 
English
Down To The WireA tense situation where the outcome is decided only in the last few seconds. 
English
Drawing a BlankFailing to recall a memory. Unable to remember something. 
English
Drive Me NutsTo greatly frustrate someone. To drive someone crazy, insane, bonkers, or bananas. 
English
Drive up the wall— To irritate. 
English
Dropping Like FliesTo fall down ill or to die in large numbers. 
English
Easy As PieSomething that is easy. 
English
Eat My HatHaving confidence in a specific outcome; being almost sure about something. 
English
Elephant in the RoomIgnoring a large, obvious problem or failing to address an issue that stands out in a major way. 
English
Elvis Has Left The BuildingSomething that is all over. 
English
Every Cloud Has a Silver LiningTo be optimistic, even in difficullt times. 
English
Everything But The Kitchen SinkIncluding nearly everything possible. 
English
expanded reach(possibilita) "ampliar horizontes" 
English to Portuguese
Fight Fire With FireTo retaliate with an attack that is similar to the attack used against you. 
English
Fish Out Of WaterSomeone being in a situation that they are unfamiliar or unsuited for. 
English
Fit as a FiddleBeing fit as a fiddle means to be in perfect health. 
English
Flea MarketA type of bazaar where inexpensive goods are sold or bartered. 
English
Foaming At The MouthTo be enraged and show it. 
English
Fool\'s GoldIron pyrities is a worthless mineral that resembles gold. 
English
For Real— A proclamation of honesty. 
English
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