Brazilian idiom from soccer: Entrar de Sola

In Brazil we have many idiomatic expressions that come from soccer. We use them in everyday day just like in the United States we ballpark an estimate or get the ball rolling on a project. Today’s Portuguese lesson is about a commonly used Brazilian idiom that comes from soccer: Entrar de sola. It’s an important part of our futebolês. I will also show you a few different uses of the verb Entrar.

The video below shows the pronunciation of the expression. Below the video you will see examples using the verb entrar and examples showing you how to use the Brazilian idiom entrar de sola.

The verb Entrar

Entrar is a very versatile verb.

1. Entrar = to enter, to go in/come in

Below are examples and their translations in English:

a) João is in his office. He hears someone knocking on the door. João says:

• Entra. = Come in.

b) Ana and Felipe meet outside the theater. Ana says:

• Está quase na hora da peça. Vamos entrar? = It is almost time for the play. Let’s go in?

2. Entrar em algo = to become involved in something; to become a part of a group

Below are examples and their translations in English:

a) Eu entrei na faculdade em 2008. = I started college in 2008.

b) Paulo entrou na empresa dois anos atrás. = Paulo started at the company two years ago.

c) Antônio entrou no projeto faz duas semanas. = Antônio got involved in the project two weeks ago.

d) Em junho do ano passado, Márcia entrou em um grupo de ciclistas e se apaixonou pelo esporte. = In June last year, Márcia became part of a group of cyclists, and she fell in love for the sport.

3. Entrar com algo = to contribute something

Example:

Nós estamos arrecadando dinheiro para o presente de aniversário do Caio. Eu vou entrar com R$ 25,00.

= We are raising money for Caio’s birthday gift. I will contribute R$ 25.00.

Brazilian Idiom: Entrar de Sola

Sola = sole of a shoe

The literal translation from Portuguese to English is: to go in with the sole of your shoes.

In a soccer game, entrar de sola means to make a tackle such that the sole (studs) of the foot will contact the ball. This is a dangerous move because if the player gets the other player’s shin instead of the ball, it can result in serious injury.

In colloquial use, entrar de sola means to go straight to the subject in a direct, and not very tactful, manner. You know when someone says something hard in a very direct, tough manner, and it feels like you’ve been punched? That person entrou de sola.

In English you have the phase: He is as blunt as a kick in the shins. In Portuguese you could say: Ele entra de sola.

Below are examples and their translations in English:

1) Minha chefe entra de sola quando dá feedback. 

= My boss is very blunt when she gives feedback.

2) Cris foi demitido ontem. O diretor entrou de sola: foi direto ao assunto e disse tudo o que Cris estava fazendo errado. 

= Cris was fired yesterday. The director was very objective: he went straight to the subject and said everything that Cris was doing wrong.

3) Tiago precisa ter um pouco mais de empatia. Quando ele faz uma crítica ou dá um feedback, ele sempre entra de sola.

= Tiago needs to have a little more empathy. When he makes a criticism or gives feedback, he is always very direct and objective without regards to the other person’s feelings.

Here is a song with the expression: Entrou de Sola, by Luiz Henrique and Cassiano:

Hoje eu te vi, novamente aqui passou
Fugindo e como sempre não me viu nem me notou
Até que ponto vale a pena viver um amor assim
Se você nem olha mais pra mim?

O sentimento ainda aflora, essa paixão marcou
Eu te ligo a cada meia hora, mas você já não diz alô.

Entra de sola, me derruba com palavras
Esse meu choro pra você não vale nada
Joga na cara as vezes que eu te fiz sofrer
Eu sei que errei, me perdoa, mas eu amo você.

Other Portuguese Lessons from My Soccer Vocabulary Series:

1. Soccer Vocabulary in Portuguese
2. Colloquial Portuguese from soccer: Vestir a camisa
3. Learn Colloquial Portuguese: Pisar na bola
4. Brazilian Idiom from Soccer: Pendurar as Chuteiras & Verb Aposentar-se

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