Bedeutung
A bad situation, a tricky predicament, or a problem.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is deeply linked to the 'jeitinho brasileiro'. When the 'jeitinho' (creative problem solving) fails, you end up in 'uma fria'. In Rio, 'uma fria' is often used to describe dangerous areas or 'furadas' involving urban navigation. While understood due to Brazilian soap operas, Portuguese natives prefer 'sarilhos' or 'alhada'. Using 'fria' marks you as a speaker of Brazilian Portuguese. Even in casual office environments, 'uma fria' is used to describe projects that are doomed to fail or have no budget.
Gender is Fixed
Never say 'um frio' to mean a bad situation. It must always be 'uma fria'.
Use with 'Entrar'
The most natural way to use this is with the verb 'entrar' (to enter).
Bedeutung
A bad situation, a tricky predicament, or a problem.
Gender is Fixed
Never say 'um frio' to mean a bad situation. It must always be 'uma fria'.
Use with 'Entrar'
The most natural way to use this is with the verb 'entrar' (to enter).
Regional Use
In Portugal, people will understand you, but they will know you learned Brazilian Portuguese.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Eu não deveria ter aceitado esse convite. Acho que entrei ______.
The idiom uses 'numa fria' (em + uma fria).
Which situation best describes 'uma fria'?
O que é 'uma fria'?
'Uma fria' refers to a bad deal or a problematic situation.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
A: 'O que você achou daquele investimento em criptomoedas?' B: 'Ih, sai dessa! É ______.'
In this context, 'uma fria' means the investment is a scam or a bad idea.
Match the phrase to the most likely context.
Match: 'Entrar numa fria'
Suspicious offers are the most common context for this idiom.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenEu não deveria ter aceitado esse convite. Acho que entrei ______.
The idiom uses 'numa fria' (em + uma fria).
O que é 'uma fria'?
'Uma fria' refers to a bad deal or a problematic situation.
A: 'O que você achou daquele investimento em criptomoedas?' B: 'Ih, sai dessa! É ______.'
In this context, 'uma fria' means the investment is a scam or a bad idea.
Match: 'Entrar numa fria'
Suspicious offers are the most common context for this idiom.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's not offensive or vulgar. It's just very informal.
No, it's too casual. Use 'uma situação difícil' instead.
They are almost identical, but 'furada' is often used for events that are a letdown, while 'fria' can imply a more serious trap.
Yes, but less frequently than in Brazil. 'Sarilho' is more common there.
Not usually. You say the *situation* is a fria, not the person (unless you mean dating them is a bad idea).
Yes, 'frias', but it's much more common in the singular.
No. 'Cold feet' is about being nervous; 'uma fria' is about being in a bad situation.
Yes. 'Estou numa fria' means you are already in the mess.
You can say 'Eu coloquei ele numa fria'.
Yes, very often in Samba and Pagode lyrics.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Uma furada
synonymA bust or a scam
Uma roubada
synonymA very bad situation
Cair no conto do vigário
specialized formTo fall for a classic scam
Estar no mato sem cachorro
similarTo be in a difficult spot without help
