Tá de pé! 4 Brazilian idioms with the word PÉ (foot)

This Portuguese lesson will teach you four Brazilian idioms with the word Pé, which means foot. These are common colloquial expressions that we use in everyday life in Brazil.

If you’ve been following my Portuguese lessons for a while, you know that I love colloquial expressions. Idioms are necessary for good communication, especially if you want to sound natural speaking Portuguese.

So let’s dive right in!

1. Estar de pé

Estar de pé means that an event or a plan is still on, it is confirmed.

Let’s say that you and your friend Malu have plans to spend the coming weekend away at the beach. You planned this a while ago. So, as the weekend approaches, you text Malu:

Você: E aí, o nosso fim de semana na praia está de pé?

Malu: Com certeza. Te ligo de noite para combinar os detalhes.

Translation:

You: Hey, is our weekend at the beach on?

Malu: For sure. I will call you tonight to plan the details.

Ainda está de pé

You will often see the expression with the word ainda.

For example:

Você: E aí, o nosso fim de semana na praia ainda está de pé?

Malu: Com certeza. Te ligo de noite para combinar os detalhes.

Translation:

You: Hey, is our weekend at the beach still on?

Malu: For sure. I will call you tonight to plan the details.

Tá de pé

One more thing: You might already know that in spoken Brazilian Portuguese we tend to not say the first syllable of the verb estar. So, we’d probably say: Tá de pé.

2. Bater o pé

Literally, bater o pé means to stomp.

But the expression communicates the idea of demanding something, insisting on an idea or not giving up on your position on an issue. In English we say to put our foot down.

Example 1

Imagine that your cousins Amanda and Felipe had a fight and have not talked to each other in a while. You are chatting with your friend Ana about this situation and you say:

“Eu já disse mil vezes pro Felipe que ele devia pedir desculpas para a Amanda. Mas ele sempre bate o pé dizendo que não deve desculpas a ninguém. Ele é muito teimoso.”

Translation:

“I’ve already told Felipe a thousand times that he should apologize to Amanda. But he insists that he doesn’t owe apologies to anyone. He’s very stubborn.”

Example 2

A gente vai começar a procurar um apartamento para comprar. Eu vou bater o pé que o apartamento tem que ter varanda.

Translation:

We’re going to start looking for an apartment to buy. I’m going to insist that the apartment needs to have a balcony.

3. Com o pé atrás

Literally, com o pé atrás means with a foot behind.

To be com o pé atrás is to be suspicious of a situation or someone, which makes you hesitant and careful in that situation or around that person. If you are com o pé atrás, you are acting cautiously because you don’t feel safe in that situation.

Example 1

Marcos nunca entrega as traduções no prazo. Por isso agora estou com o pé atrás para trabalhar com ele.

Translation:

Marcos never delivers the translations on time. So now I’m hesitant to work with him.

Example 2

Meu chefe ficou com o pé atrás comigo depois que ele descobriu que eu estou procurando outro emprego.

Translation:

My boss got suspicious of me after he found out that I’m looking for another job.

4. Largar do pé

Literally, largar do pé means to let go of the foot. What the expression means is: to stop bothering someone.

When you say that someone não larga do seu pé, you are saying that this person is constantly bothering you and won’t leave you alone.

Example 1

Faz meses que a Ana e o Pedro terminaram, mas ele não larga do pé dela.

Translation:

It’s been months since Ana and Pedro broke up, but he won’t leave her alone.

Example 2

Imagine Pedro calls Ana again, and she says:

“Pedro, você precisa largar do meu pé, por favor.”

Translation:

“Pedro, you need to leave me alone, please.’

Or: “Pedro, you need to stop bothering me, please.”

The best way to make sure you remember these expressions and are able to use them correctly is to practice them in real life conversations. You need to intentionally create opportunities to use the expressions.

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