In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe showing interest or paying attention to someone.
- Very common in romantic contexts to describe flirting or ignoring.
- Derived from soccer, symbolizing inclusion in a social 'game'.
Meaning
It means to show interest in someone or something. It is often used when you are flirting or simply acknowledging what someone is saying.
Key Examples
3 of 6Talking about a crush
Eu tentei conversar, mas ela não me deu bola.
I tried to talk, but she didn't pay me any attention.
Dealing with a bully
Não dá bola para o que ele diz.
Don't pay attention to what he says.
Professional networking
O chefe não deu muita bola para a minha ideia.
The boss didn't really care for my idea.
Cultural Background
The expression is deeply rooted in Brazil's soccer culture, where 'giving the ball' is the ultimate sign of cooperation. It evolved from the pitch to the streets to describe social validation. Today, it is a staple of Brazilian soap operas (telenovelas) to describe unrequited love.
The Power of 'Não'
You will hear 'não dar bola' much more often than the positive version. It's the go-to phrase for telling someone to stay cool and ignore drama.
Romantic Nuance
If someone says 'Ele está me dando bola', they are usually blushing! It implies a specific kind of romantic validation.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe showing interest or paying attention to someone.
- Very common in romantic contexts to describe flirting or ignoring.
- Derived from soccer, symbolizing inclusion in a social 'game'.
What It Means
Dar bola is about attention and interest. Imagine someone is talking to you. If you listen and respond, you are giving them the ball. It is like a game of catch. Without your response, the game stops. It is used for both general attention and romantic interest.
How To Use It
You use it just like a regular verb. You can say eu dei bola for the past. Or não me dê bola if you want someone to ignore you. It works perfectly in negative sentences too. If someone is being rude, you just não dá bola to them. It is a very versatile tool for your social kit.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing social dynamics. It is perfect for telling a friend about a crush. "She didn't dar bola to me at the party!" You can also use it when someone is annoying you. Tell your friend to ignore the person. It is great for casual office gossip or family dinners. It feels very natural in everyday Brazilian Portuguese.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very formal writing. Do not use it in a legal contract. It is too casual for a serious academic thesis. Also, do not use it for inanimate objects. You do not dar bola to a chair. It is almost always about human interaction and social energy.
Cultural Background
Brazilians are famous for being social and expressive. The phrase likely comes from sports, specifically soccer. In a game, if you do not pass the ball, you are ignoring the player. If you give them the ball, they are part of the game. It reflects the high value Brazilians place on being noticed and included.
Common Variations
You will often hear dar moral. This is very similar but slightly more modern. There is also dar trela, which means to keep a conversation going too long. If you want to be more intense, you can say dar muita bola. This means you are really paying a lot of attention to someone.
Usage Notes
Mainly used in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. It sits comfortably in the 'informal' category—perfect for friends, but maybe too relaxed for a job interview.
The Power of 'Não'
You will hear 'não dar bola' much more often than the positive version. It's the go-to phrase for telling someone to stay cool and ignore drama.
Romantic Nuance
If someone says 'Ele está me dando bola', they are usually blushing! It implies a specific kind of romantic validation.
Don't be too literal
If you are actually playing soccer and want the ball, say 'Passa a bola!' (Pass the ball). Using 'Me dá bola' might make your teammates think you want a date!
Examples
6Eu tentei conversar, mas ela não me deu bola.
I tried to talk, but she didn't pay me any attention.
Commonly used when someone ignores a romantic advance.
Não dá bola para o que ele diz.
Don't pay attention to what he says.
Used as advice to ignore someone's negativity.
O chefe não deu muita bola para a minha ideia.
The boss didn't really care for my idea.
Describes a lack of interest in a professional suggestion.
Aquele cara tá me mandando mensagem, mas nem vou dar bola.
That guy is texting me, but I'm not even going to respond.
Modern usage for ignoring digital notifications.
O cachorro só dá bola para quem tem petisco!
The dog only pays attention to whoever has treats!
Humorous way to describe a pet's selective attention.
Poxa, você nem deu bola para o que eu contei.
Man, you didn't even acknowledge what I told you.
Expressing disappointment when a friend isn't listening.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the phrase for a past situation.
Ontem eu tentei falar com o João, mas ele não me ___.
Since the sentence starts with 'Ontem' (Yesterday), you need the past tense 'deu'.
Complete the advice for someone being teased.
Se eles te provocarem, apenas não ___.
This uses the imperative 'dê' to give a command or piece of advice.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Dar Bola'
Very street-level
Dar um papo
Perfect for friends and family
Dar bola
Standard conversation
Prestar atenção
Where to use 'Dar Bola'
At a Bar
Flirting with someone new
With Siblings
Ignoring an annoying brother
Social Media
Not replying to a DM
Workplace
Pitching a casual idea
Practice Bank
2 exercisesOntem eu tentei falar com o João, mas ele não me ___.
Since the sentence starts with 'Ontem' (Yesterday), you need the past tense 'deu'.
Se eles te provocarem, apenas não ___.
This uses the imperative 'dê' to give a command or piece of advice.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsLiterally, it means 'to give ball.' It comes from the idea of including someone in a game by passing them the ball.
Yes, if your workplace is casual. You might say Ele não deu bola para o projeto, but avoid it in a formal written report.
Prestar atenção is more neutral and focused on the act of listening. Dar bola implies a social or emotional reaction.
You can say Ele está me dando bola. It implies he is paying special attention to you.
Yes, but it is much more common and iconic in Brazilian Portuguese. In Portugal, they might use dar confiança.
The most common opposite is simply não dar bola. You could also use ignorar (to ignore).
Not really. You wouldn't dar bola to a book, but you could dar bola to a specific topic or news story.
No, it's not rude, but it is very informal. It's a natural way to describe social interactions.
It means to pay a lot of attention or to be very interested. For example: Ele deu muita bola para o que eu disse.
Yes, dar trela means to give someone enough attention that they keep talking or acting up.
Related Phrases
dar moral
dar trela
ficar de olho
dar em cima
fazer pouco caso
