Meaning bater o martelo, ao Deus dará and chá de cadeira
Meaning bater o martelo, ao Deus dará and chá de cadeira
Hello there and welcome to our Portuguese Basic Tips 103, about the meaning bater o martelo, ao Deus dará and chá de cadeira
On today’s podcast, we are going to speak about 3 new expressions you need to know if you want to come to Brazil. Learn the meaning of bater o martelo, ao deus dará and chá de cadeira.
Let’s get started!
Visit our previous episode, called meaning of lamber sabão, se não me falha a memória and não vejo a hora
Bater o martelo
The expression “bater o martelo” refers us to the law judges, when they deliver a sentence. When they do that, they usually “hit some kind of hammer”, the judges “batem o martelo”: guilty or innocent!
In those cases, they make a final decision and here is the meaning of this expression: to make a final decision.
We use it when we are not convinced about something, even though we need to decide one way or another.
- Eu já bati o martelo e não vou continuar naquele emprego. (I am decided not to keep that job. There’s nothing you can do about it).
- Eu já bati o martelo e vou aceitar aquela proposta de emprego. (I’m decided: I’m going to accept that job offer).
Ao Deus dará
This expression could be replaced in English for “uncared for”. However, in Portuguese, the idea is that someone is waiting for something that “God will provide”. Like “I’m not good, but I’m waiting for the aid of God”.
- A criança está ao Deus dará (The child is uncared for)
- O lugar estava devastado, estava ao Deus dará (The place was devasted, it was uncared for).
There is this Brazilian songwriter named Chico Buarque, he sings a song called “Partido Alto”, like this:
“Diz que Deus / Diz que dá/ Diz que Deus dará/ E se Deus não dá? Eu vou me indignar, oh nega!”
Well, let’s see today’s last expression!
Chá de cadeira
We could literally translate it as “tea of chair”, but I don’t think it means something for you. Another expression that Brazilians use meaning the same is “chá de canseira” (tea of tiredness). I think it’s getting worse, isn’t it?
Chá de cadeira or chá de canseira is when you need to wait too much somewhere or even when someone makes you to waste your time.
- Eu tomei um chá de cadeira ontem na reunião! (I had to wait for a long time at the meeting yesterday!)
- Estou até agora tomando um chá de cadeira aqui (I am here now and I’m waiting so long!)
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See you soon.
Thanks!
Marcos Sales
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