C1 Idiom محايد

Ficar em águas de bacalhau.

To be in codfish waters.

المعنى

To be left unresolved or in an uncertain state, often postponed indefinitely.

🌍

خلفية ثقافية

The preparation of cod is a ritual. Every household knows that 'demolhar' takes time. This idiom reflects the frustration of that time being wasted. While understood, Brazilians often use 'dar em pizza' for political scandals that end in nothing, or 'ficar no papel' for unimplemented plans. In these Lusophone African countries, the phrase is used in formal administration, inherited from the Portuguese colonial legal system. The phrase dates back to the era when cod was the primary protein for sailors. A failed meal was a serious matter on a long voyage.

🎯

Use it for Bureaucracy

This is the perfect phrase to use when complaining about Portuguese or Brazilian bureaucracy.

⚠️

Not for Food

Never use this to describe a soup that is too thin; use 'aguado' instead.

المعنى

To be left unresolved or in an uncertain state, often postponed indefinitely.

🎯

Use it for Bureaucracy

This is the perfect phrase to use when complaining about Portuguese or Brazilian bureaucracy.

⚠️

Not for Food

Never use this to describe a soup that is too thin; use 'aguado' instead.

اختبر نفسك

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.

Nós tínhamos grandes planos para o verão, mas infelizmente tudo ________ em águas de bacalhau.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: ficou

The standard verb for this idiom is 'ficar'.

Which situation best fits the idiom 'ficar em águas de bacalhau'?

A situation where...

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: A government promise is never fulfilled and people stop talking about it.

The idiom refers to plans or promises that remain unresolved.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 'Então, o teu aumento sempre foi aprovado?' B: 'Não, o meu chefe saiu da empresa e o assunto ________.'

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: All of the above

While 'águas de bacalhau' is the target, 'foi por água abaixo' and 'deu em nada' are also contextually correct synonyms.

🎉 النتيجة: /3

وسائل تعلم بصرية

بنك التمارين

3 تمارين
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom. Fill Blank B1

Nós tínhamos grandes planos para o verão, mas infelizmente tudo ________ em águas de bacalhau.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: ficou

The standard verb for this idiom is 'ficar'.

Which situation best fits the idiom 'ficar em águas de bacalhau'? Choose B2

A situation where...

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: A government promise is never fulfilled and people stop talking about it.

The idiom refers to plans or promises that remain unresolved.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion C1

A: 'Então, o teu aumento sempre foi aprovado?' B: 'Não, o meu chefe saiu da empresa e o assunto ________.'

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: All of the above

While 'águas de bacalhau' is the target, 'foi por água abaixo' and 'deu em nada' are also contextually correct synonyms.

🎉 النتيجة: /3

الأسئلة الشائعة

3 أسئلة

No, it is a neutral idiom used in newspapers and daily life.

Yes, but 'dar em nada' is more common in casual Brazilian speech.

The phrase stays the same; only the verb 'ficar' changes to 'ficaram'.

عبارات ذات صلة

🔄

Dar em nada

synonym

To result in nothing.

🔗

Ir por água abaixo

similar

To go down the drain.

🔗

Ficar em banho-maria

similar

To be on the back burner.

🔗

Dar com os burros n'água

contrast

To fail miserably after effort.

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