Signification
To miss an opportunity due to inattention or slowness.
Contexte culturel
In Brazil, the 'ponto de ônibus' is a social landmark. People often spend significant time there, making it a perfect setting for idioms about waiting and alertness. While understood, Portuguese people might use 'ficar a ver navios' more often. 'Ponto' in Portugal can also mean 'stitch' or 'clock-in point', so context is key. In Luanda, transportation idioms are also common, but 'dormir no ponto' is recognized mainly through Brazilian soap operas (novelas). In the startup scene in São Paulo, 'dormir no ponto' is used to describe companies that fail to innovate fast enough.
Use with 'não'
The most common way to use this is as a warning: 'Não durma no ponto!'
Not for actual sleep
If you are actually tired, say 'Estou com sono'. Using this idiom will make people look for a missed opportunity.
Signification
To miss an opportunity due to inattention or slowness.
Use with 'não'
The most common way to use this is as a warning: 'Não durma no ponto!'
Not for actual sleep
If you are actually tired, say 'Estou com sono'. Using this idiom will make people look for a missed opportunity.
Novela influence
You will hear this constantly in Brazilian TV shows. Pay attention to the characters' regret when they say it.
Teste-toi
Complete a frase com a forma correta do verbo 'dormir'.
Eu queria comprar o ingresso, mas eu ________ no ponto e esgotou.
The subject is 'Eu' (I), so the past tense of 'dormir' is 'dormi'.
Qual é o significado de 'dormir no ponto'?
O que significa quando alguém diz que você 'dormiu no ponto'?
The idiom refers to missing a chance due to inattention.
Associe a situação ao uso do idioma.
Em qual dessas situações é apropriado dizer 'Não durma no ponto'?
It serves as a warning to stay alert and grab the opportunity.
Complete o diálogo.
A: 'A promoção da TV era só até meio-dia!' B: 'Puxa, eu ________ no ponto!'
The speaker is reflecting on a past mistake.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesEu queria comprar o ingresso, mas eu ________ no ponto e esgotou.
The subject is 'Eu' (I), so the past tense of 'dormir' is 'dormi'.
O que significa quando alguém diz que você 'dormiu no ponto'?
The idiom refers to missing a chance due to inattention.
Em qual dessas situações é apropriado dizer 'Não durma no ponto'?
It serves as a warning to stay alert and grab the opportunity.
A: 'A promoção da TV era só até meio-dia!' B: 'Puxa, eu ________ no ponto!'
The speaker is reflecting on a past mistake.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's usually friendly teasing, but don't use it in very sad situations.
Yes, they will understand you, but it sounds very Brazilian.
Eles dormiram no ponto.
You would say 'perder uma oportunidade' or 'não estar atento'.
No, here it means 'stop' (as in bus stop).
No, the idiom is fixed as 'no ponto'.
Yes, very often to describe missing a market trend.
'Comer mosca' is more about a silly mistake; 'dormir no ponto' is specifically about missing a chance.
Eu estou dormindo no ponto.
It's an idiom, which is a step above slang. It's safe for most casual and neutral talk.
Expressions liées
Comer mosca
synonymTo be distracted and miss something.
Vacilar
similarTo mess up or fail to act.
Perder o bonde
synonymTo miss the tram/trend.
Estar ligado
contrastTo be alert/switched on.
