في 15 ثانية
- To start a task with high energy and total commitment.
- Similar to the English phrase 'roll up your sleeves'.
- Used for work, projects, or any demanding physical activity.
المعنى
This phrase means to start working on something with great energy and dedication. It is like saying you are rolling up your sleeves to tackle a big task head-on.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Starting a big project at work
Temos muito que fazer, vamos pôr o braço nisto!
We have a lot to do, let's get to work on this!
Cleaning the house after a party
A casa está um caos, preciso de pôr o braço na limpeza.
The house is a mess, I need to dive into the cleaning.
Texting a friend about a new hobby
Comecei a horta e já pus o braço na terra!
I started the vegetable garden and already got to work!
خلفية ثقافية
This expression stems from Portugal's history of manual labor, particularly in farming and fishing. It reflects a cultural pride in 'hard work' and the physical act of committing oneself to a task. While older, it remains popular in both Portugal and Brazil to describe someone who isn't afraid of a challenge.
The 'Mão na Massa' connection
If you find 'pôr o braço' too intense, use 'mão na massa'. It's more common and means exactly the same thing!
Don't confuse with 'Dar o braço'
Be careful! 'Dar o braço a torcer' means to give in or admit defeat. It has nothing to do with working hard.
في 15 ثانية
- To start a task with high energy and total commitment.
- Similar to the English phrase 'roll up your sleeves'.
- Used for work, projects, or any demanding physical activity.
What It Means
Imagine you have a huge pile of work. You do not just touch it with your fingers. You dive in deep. Pôr o braço em algo means giving your full effort. It is about being proactive and hardworking. You are not just watching from the sidelines. You are getting your hands (and arms) dirty. It implies a sense of urgency and total commitment.
How To Use It
You use this when a project needs a push. Use the verb pôr (to put) or sometimes lançar (to throw). You follow it with the preposition em (in/on). For example, Ele pôs o braço no trabalho. It sounds natural when talking about physical labor or intense office tasks. It shows you are a team player who does not shy away from effort.
When To Use It
Use it when a deadline is approaching fast. It is perfect for telling a friend you are busy with a new project. Use it at work to show you are dedicated. If your garden is a mess, tell your neighbor you need to pôr o braço there. It conveys a vibe of 'let's get this done now'.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for small, easy tasks. If you are just checking an email, it is too much. Avoid it in very delicate or emotional situations. You would not pôr o braço in a funeral arrangement. It is also not for passive hobbies like watching TV. It requires action and sweat. If the task is tiny, you will sound a bit dramatic.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture values the 'mão na massa' (hands in the dough) attitude. This expression is a variation of that physical labor spirit. It likely comes from old agricultural or maritime work. In those days, using your whole arm meant heavy lifting. It reflects the grit of the Portuguese working class. Today, it has moved from the fields into modern offices.
Common Variations
You might hear deitar o braço. This is slightly more aggressive and energetic. Another one is dar o braço a torcer, but be careful! That one means to admit you were wrong. Stick to pôr o braço when you mean hard work. In Brazil, you might hear meter a mão, which is very similar in spirit.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This is an informal idiom best suited for casual conversations, family settings, or relaxed workplaces. Avoid using it in highly formal documents or when speaking to high-level executives you don't know well.
The 'Mão na Massa' connection
If you find 'pôr o braço' too intense, use 'mão na massa'. It's more common and means exactly the same thing!
Don't confuse with 'Dar o braço'
Be careful! 'Dar o braço a torcer' means to give in or admit defeat. It has nothing to do with working hard.
Regional Twists
In Northern Portugal, people are very direct. They might say 'deitar o braço' with a lot of energy to show they are ready for action.
أمثلة
6Temos muito que fazer, vamos pôr o braço nisto!
We have a lot to do, let's get to work on this!
Encouraging a team to start working hard.
A casa está um caos, preciso de pôr o braço na limpeza.
The house is a mess, I need to dive into the cleaning.
Shows the task is large and requires effort.
Comecei a horta e já pus o braço na terra!
I started the vegetable garden and already got to work!
A play on the literal and figurative meaning.
Gosto de ver como pões o braço em todos os desafios.
I like seeing how you tackle every challenge head-on.
A compliment for a hardworking person.
Ele nunca põe o braço em nada nesta casa!
He never lifts a finger (puts effort) in anything in this house!
Used negatively to describe lack of effort.
Não te preocupes, amanhã ponho o braço nessa mudança.
Don't worry, tomorrow I'll help out with that move.
Offering help for a physically demanding task.
اختبر نفسك
Choose the correct preposition to complete the idiom.
Vou pôr o braço ___ projeto hoje mesmo.
The idiom uses 'pôr o braço em' (in/on). Since 'projeto' is masculine, 'em + o' becomes 'no'.
Which verb is most commonly used in this expression?
Precisamos de ___ o braço ao trabalho.
'Pôr o braço' is the standard form of this idiom meaning to start working hard.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'Pôr o braço'
Slang with close friends
Mete o braço nisso, pá!
Daily talk with colleagues
Vou pôr o braço no relatório.
Professional speeches
Devemos empenhar-nos totalmente.
When to 'Pôr o Braço'
Renovating a room
Painting walls
Exam season
Studying 10 hours
Office crunch
Finishing a report
Gardening
Planting trees
بنك التمارين
2 تمارينVou pôr o braço ___ projeto hoje mesmo.
The idiom uses 'pôr o braço em' (in/on). Since 'projeto' is masculine, 'em + o' becomes 'no'.
Precisamos de ___ o braço ao trabalho.
'Pôr o braço' is the standard form of this idiom meaning to start working hard.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNo, it is figurative. It means putting in effort, though it often refers to tasks that could be physical, like pôr o braço nas obras (getting to work on the construction).
It might be a bit too informal. Instead, use empenhar-me totalmente or dedicar-me ao máximo to sound more professional.
Exactly! It carries the same meaning of preparing for hard work, like saying vamos arregaçar as mangas.
Yes, though Brazilians might prefer meter a mão or pegar firme. Pôr o braço is understood but sounds slightly more European.
Yes! If you have a big exam, you can say vou pôr o braço nos estudos to show you are studying intensely.
Pôr o braço is about effort. Dar o braço a torcer is an idiom meaning to yield or admit you were wrong.
Not at all. It is a positive, energetic expression. It shows you are a hard worker.
It sounds a bit strange for small tasks. You wouldn't pôr o braço to wash a single cup.
It is irregular. In the present, it is eu ponho, tu pões, ele põe. For example: Eu ponho o braço no trabalho.
Not really. In Portuguese, we use 'arm' (braço) or 'hand' (mão) for work, but 'leg' (perna) is usually for running or moving fast.
عبارات ذات صلة
Mãos à obra
Let's get to work / Hands to the task
Arregaçar as mangas
To roll up one's sleeves
Dar o litro
To give one's all (literally 'to give the liter')
Meter a mão na massa
To get one's hands dirty / get stuck in
