Significado
To finish a situation with no gain or loss, or without a clear winner.
Contexto cultural
The phrase is a testament to how football vocabulary dictates social norms. A 'zero a zero' match is often called 'sonolento' (sleepy), which mirrors the social feeling of a boring night out. In Portugal, while the phrase is understood, you might hear 'ficar em águas de bacalhau' for something that comes to nothing, though that implies more of a failure than a draw. Angolan Portuguese also uses soccer metaphors, but 'sair no zero a zero' is less common than in Brazil, with speakers often preferring more direct terms for stalemates. On apps like Tinder or during Carnival, 'sair no zero a zero' is a common humorous complaint among friends to describe a lack of success.
Use for Dating
If you want to sound like a local when talking about your weekend, this is the #1 phrase to use if you didn't have any romantic luck.
Not for Losses
Don't use this if you lost money or failed an exam. That's a 'prejuízo' or 'reprovação'. 'Zero a zero' is strictly for neutral outcomes.
Significado
To finish a situation with no gain or loss, or without a clear winner.
Use for Dating
If you want to sound like a local when talking about your weekend, this is the #1 phrase to use if you didn't have any romantic luck.
Not for Losses
Don't use this if you lost money or failed an exam. That's a 'prejuízo' or 'reprovação'. 'Zero a zero' is strictly for neutral outcomes.
The 'Empate' nuance
While 'empate' is the literal word, 'zero a zero' carries a stronger connotation of boredom or lack of action.
Verb Choice
You can use 'terminar' (to end) instead of 'sair' if you are talking about an event rather than your personal experience.
Ponte a prueba
Preencha a lacuna com a forma correta do verbo 'sair'.
Ontem eu fui ao cassino, não ganhei nem perdi dinheiro; eu ___ no zero a zero.
The subject is 'eu', so the verb 'sair' must be in the first person singular past tense.
Qual situação melhor descreve 'sair no zero a zero'?
Situação: Você investiu 100 reais e recebeu 100 reais de volta.
When the input equals the output, it's a 'zero a zero' (break-even) situation.
Complete o diálogo de forma natural.
A: 'E aí, como foi o encontro?' B: 'Ah, não rolou nada. ___.'
In a dating context, 'não rolou nada' (nothing happened) is synonymous with 'sair no zero a zero'.
Escolha a frase gramaticalmente correta.
Qual frase está correta?
The idiom specifically uses the preposition 'no' and the structure 'zero a zero'.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Outcomes of a Situation
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosOntem eu fui ao cassino, não ganhei nem perdi dinheiro; eu ___ no zero a zero.
The subject is 'eu', so the verb 'sair' must be in the first person singular past tense.
Situação: Você investiu 100 reais e recebeu 100 reais de volta.
When the input equals the output, it's a 'zero a zero' (break-even) situation.
A: 'E aí, como foi o encontro?' B: 'Ah, não rolou nada. ___.'
In a dating context, 'não rolou nada' (nothing happened) is synonymous with 'sair no zero a zero'.
Qual frase está correta?
The idiom specifically uses the preposition 'no' and the structure 'zero a zero'.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, it is understood, but it sounds very Brazilian. Portuguese people might prefer 'ficar na mesma'.
Not at all. It's casual and slightly humorous, but never offensive.
Not really. If you get a zero on a test, you 'tirou zero'. 'Zero a zero' is for a draw between two forces or a break-even.
The opposite is 'sair no lucro' (to come out with a profit/gain).
Usually, yes, or one person against a situation (like a casino or a market).
No, they are interchangeable. 'Sair' is slightly more common when leaving a place (like a party).
No, it's too informal. Say 'resultado neutro' or 'ponto de equilíbrio'.
'Zero' is a masculine noun in Portuguese, so it takes the masculine article 'o'.
Yes, any sport with a score, but soccer is the primary reference.
Technically no, that would be 'sair no um a um' (1-1), but figuratively 'zero a zero' is used for any stalemate where nothing happened.
Frases relacionadas
Ficar elas por elas
similarTo be even; tit for tat.
Dar em nada
similarTo come to nothing.
Sair no lucro
contrastTo come out ahead / to profit.
Sair no prejuízo
contrastTo come out with a loss.
Empatar
synonymTo tie / to draw.
Chutar no vácuo
relatedTo miss an opportunity completely.
