15초 만에
- Refers to personal involvement or careful, precise selection.
- Used to praise someone's specific influence or handiwork.
- Equivalent to 'having a hand in' or 'hand-picked'.
뜻
This phrase describes something done with extreme precision, personal care, or careful selection. It’s like saying you hand-picked or custom-made something with your own fingers to ensure it was absolutely perfect.
주요 예문
3 / 6Complimenting a friend's home decor
Dá para ver que você meteu o dedo em cada detalhe desta sala!
I can see you had a hand in every detail of this room!
Selecting a team for a project
Esta equipe foi escolhida a dedo para o projeto.
This team was hand-picked for the project.
Tasting a delicious homemade meal
Esse tempero tem o seu dedo, não tem?
This seasoning has your touch, doesn't it?
문화적 배경
The expression reflects the Mediterranean and Lusophone appreciation for manual labor and craftsmanship. In Portugal and Brazil, giving credit to someone's 'finger' (influence) is a high compliment that acknowledges their specific taste and effort. It highlights a culture that values the individual's impact on a collective result.
The 'Selection' Secret
If you want to sound like a native when shopping or hiring, always use 'escolhido a dedo'. It sounds much more sophisticated than just saying 'muito bom'.
Don't get Nosy
Be careful! 'Meter o dedo' is usually positive (involvement), but 'meter o nariz' is always negative (being nosy). Don't swap them!
15초 만에
- Refers to personal involvement or careful, precise selection.
- Used to praise someone's specific influence or handiwork.
- Equivalent to 'having a hand in' or 'hand-picked'.
What It Means
Imagine you are picking the very best strawberries from a basket. You don’t just grab a handful. You use your finger to point and select each one individually. That is the essence of meter o dedo. It means to get personally involved to ensure quality. It suggests a 'human touch' that makes something special. When someone says a project had your dedo, they mean your unique influence is visible.
How To Use It
You use this when you want to highlight effort or customization. It usually appears as ter o dedo de alguém (to have someone's touch) or meter o dedo em algo (to put one's finger/effort into something). You can use it for cooking, decorating, or even a business deal. It’s a way to give credit for a job well done. Just remember to use the preposition em or de depending on the sentence structure.
When To Use It
Use it when you see something that looks better than average. If your friend throws a party and the decor is stunning, tell them: "I can see you meteu o dedo here!" It’s perfect for professional settings too. If a manager helped refine a presentation, you can say their dedo made the difference. Use it when you want to sound appreciative and observant. It shows you noticed the small, careful details.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this if someone actually made a mistake. While 'putting your finger in' sounds like 'meddling' in English, in Portuguese, it’s usually positive. Avoid it in very tragic or solemn situations. You wouldn't say someone meteu o dedo in a funeral arrangement, as it sounds a bit too crafty or busy. Also, don't confuse it with meter o nariz (to stick your nose in), which is about being nosy and annoying.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture places a high value on 'o toque pessoal' (the personal touch). In a world of mass production, something done a dedo is a luxury. It stems from the craftsmanship traditions of Portugal and Brazil. Whether it's handmade lace or a perfectly seasoned bacalhau, the 'finger' represents the artisan's soul. It’s about the pride of saying, "I did this myself, and I did it carefully."
Common Variations
You will often hear escolhido a dedo. This means 'hand-picked' or 'cherry-picked.' It is the most common variation you'll encounter in daily life. Another one is ter o dedo para a coisa, which means having a natural knack or talent for something. If your plants never die, you have a dedo verde (green thumb), though mão boa is also common!
사용 참고사항
The phrase is highly versatile. Use it with 'ter' (to have) for a state of influence, or 'meter' (to put) for the action of getting involved. It sits comfortably in the informal-to-neutral register.
The 'Selection' Secret
If you want to sound like a native when shopping or hiring, always use 'escolhido a dedo'. It sounds much more sophisticated than just saying 'muito bom'.
Don't get Nosy
Be careful! 'Meter o dedo' is usually positive (involvement), but 'meter o nariz' is always negative (being nosy). Don't swap them!
The 'Dedo de Prosa'
In Minas Gerais, Brazil, they love a 'dedo de prosa'—which just means a short, friendly chat. Fingers are everywhere in Portuguese idioms!
예시
6Dá para ver que você meteu o dedo em cada detalhe desta sala!
I can see you had a hand in every detail of this room!
Shows appreciation for the friend's personal style.
Esta equipe foi escolhida a dedo para o projeto.
This team was hand-picked for the project.
Uses the 'escolhido a dedo' variation for precision.
Esse tempero tem o seu dedo, não tem?
This seasoning has your touch, doesn't it?
A common way to compliment a cook's unique style.
Escolhi o seu presente a dedo, espero que goste!
I hand-picked your gift, I hope you like it!
Emphasizes the effort put into the choice.
O sucesso do evento teve o dedo da diretoria.
The success of the event had the management's touch.
Formal recognition of influence.
Certeza que o João meteu o dedo nisso e estragou tudo!
I'm sure João put his finger in this and ruined everything!
A humorous/sarcastic use implying meddling.
셀프 테스트
Choose the correct word to complete the phrase meaning 'hand-picked'.
Os convidados foram escolhidos a ___.
The expression 'escolhido a dedo' specifically uses 'dedo' to mean carefully selected.
How do you say someone's personal touch is visible?
Dá para ver que tem o seu ___ aqui.
'Ter o dedo' means to have one's personal influence or touch on something.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality Scale of 'Meter o Dedo'
Joking with friends about meddling.
Não mete o dedo onde não é chamado!
Complimenting someone's work or taste.
Isso tem o seu dedo.
Describing a carefully curated selection.
Uma lista escolhida a dedo.
When to use 'Dedo' expressions
Cooking
Personal seasoning touch
Hiring
Selecting the best candidate
Art
Adding final details to a painting
Shopping
Picking the perfect fruit
연습 문제 은행
2 연습 문제Os convidados foram escolhidos a ___.
The expression 'escolhido a dedo' specifically uses 'dedo' to mean carefully selected.
Dá para ver que tem o seu ___ aqui.
'Ter o dedo' means to have one's personal influence or touch on something.
🎉 점수: /2
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문It can, but it's usually more about 'having a hand in' something creative or constructive. If you mean 'interfere' in a bad way, meter-se onde não é chamado is more common.
Yes, especially the variation escolhido a dedo. It shows that you were meticulous, which is a great professional trait.
Sort of! While English uses 'green thumb', Portuguese uses ter mão boa para plantas, but you could say the garden has your dedo if you designed it.
The most common usage is definitely escolhido a dedo to describe something high-quality and hand-picked.
Yes, it is widely understood and used in both countries with the same general meaning of personal touch or careful selection.
Only if the tone is aggressive, like Não mete o seu dedo nisso! (Don't put your finger in this!), implying someone is meddling.
You could say Ele mete o dedo em tudo, which implies he is involved in every single detail.
It means 'fairy finger,' used for someone very delicate or skilled at fine manual tasks, like embroidery or surgery.
No, it's a standard idiom. It's informal/neutral but perfectly acceptable in most social and many professional settings.
Absolutely. O dedo do governo refers to the government's influence or 'hand' in a specific policy or outcome.
관련 표현
Escolhido a dedo
Hand-picked or carefully selected.
Ter o dedo de alguém
To have someone's personal touch/influence.
Meter o nariz onde não é chamado
To stick one's nose where it doesn't belong.
Dedo de prosa
A quick, friendly conversation.
