In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe someone moving or running very fast.
- Implies a person is in a huge rush.
- Focuses on the physical breeze created by high speed.
Meaning
This phrase is used when someone is moving very fast or rushing through a place. It describes that 'whoosh' of air you feel when someone sprints past you.
Key Examples
3 of 6Watching a colleague rush to a meeting
O Diretor passou por aqui a fazer vento!
The Director ran past here like a whirlwind!
Describing a busy morning at the train station
Toda a gente corre para o comboio e faz vento no corredor.
Everyone runs for the train and creates a breeze in the hallway.
Texting a friend about someone who ignored you
O João passou por mim e nem me viu, ia a fazer vento.
João passed me and didn't even see me, he was rushing so fast.
Cultural Background
The expression highlights the contrast between the traditional, relaxed pace of Lusophone cultures and the frantic nature of modern city life. It is often used with a hint of irony or mild criticism toward someone who is too busy to acknowledge others. In Brazil, it can also imply someone is trying to show off how busy and important they are.
The Visual Cue
Use this phrase when you want to emphasize the physical speed. It's more descriptive than just saying someone is 'fast'.
Not for Weather
Remember, if you say 'O tempo está a fazer vento', people will look at you strangely. Use 'Está vento' for the weather.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe someone moving or running very fast.
- Implies a person is in a huge rush.
- Focuses on the physical breeze created by high speed.
What It Means
Fazer vento is all about speed and physical presence. Think of a person running so fast they leave a breeze behind. You use it to describe someone in a massive hurry. It is not about the weather. It is about human velocity. If your friend sprints to catch a bus, they are fazendo vento.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb phrase. It usually describes someone else's movement. You can say someone passed by fazendo vento. It implies they didn't even stop to say hello. It captures that feeling of a blur moving past you. It is a very visual and sensory expression.
When To Use It
Use this when you see someone rushing. Use it at the office when a colleague sprints to a meeting. Use it at home when your kids run through the hallway. It is perfect for describing a busy street scene. It works well when you are slightly annoyed or impressed by speed. If someone ignores you because they are rushing, this is your phrase.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for actual weather reports. If it is a stormy day, just say está vento. Avoid using it in very somber or tragic situations. It has a slightly lighthearted or observational energy. Do not use it to describe slow, steady progress. It requires a sense of sudden, rapid movement.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture often values stopping for a quick coffee or chat. When someone is fazendo vento, they are breaking that social norm. It reflects a fast-paced urban life that contrasts with traditional 'calma'. It is a common sight in busy hubs like Lisbon or São Paulo. It captures the frantic energy of modern life in a simple metaphor.
Common Variations
You might hear passar como um vento (to pass like a wind). Another version is levar tudo à frente (taking everything ahead). However, fazer vento is the most common way to describe the physical draft. It is short, punchy, and everyone understands it immediately. It is a staple of everyday spoken Portuguese.
Usage Notes
This is an informal expression best suited for daily conversations and casual storytelling. It is perfectly safe for social settings but should be avoided in formal writing or academic contexts.
The Visual Cue
Use this phrase when you want to emphasize the physical speed. It's more descriptive than just saying someone is 'fast'.
Not for Weather
Remember, if you say 'O tempo está a fazer vento', people will look at you strangely. Use 'Está vento' for the weather.
Social Commentary
Using this can be a subtle way to tell someone they are being too frantic. It's a gentle nudge to slow down.
Examples
6O Diretor passou por aqui a fazer vento!
The Director ran past here like a whirlwind!
Shows the person was moving so fast they didn't stop.
Toda a gente corre para o comboio e faz vento no corredor.
Everyone runs for the train and creates a breeze in the hallway.
Describes a chaotic, fast-moving crowd.
O João passou por mim e nem me viu, ia a fazer vento.
João passed me and didn't even see me, he was rushing so fast.
Used to explain why a social interaction didn't happen.
Parem de fazer vento no corredor, vão acabar por cair!
Stop sprinting through the hallway, you'll end up falling!
A common parental warning about speed.
Aquele carro passou a fazer vento pela rua fora.
That car went flying down the street.
Can be applied to vehicles as well as people.
Ela saiu daqui a fazer vento porque estava atrasada.
She left here in a huge rush because she was late.
Explains a sudden departure.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct phrase to describe someone sprinting.
A Maria está com tanta pressa que passou por nós a ___.
Only 'fazer vento' idiomatically describes the act of rushing past someone at high speed.
Complete the sentence about a busy office.
No escritório, toda a gente anda de um lado para o outro a ___.
In a busy office context, people move quickly between tasks, 'making wind' as they go.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Fazer Vento'
Very informal, used among close friends.
Ele passou a mil!
The sweet spot for 'fazer vento'.
Passaste a fazer vento!
Common in daily conversation.
Ia a fazer vento.
Too casual for a legal document or speech.
Deslocou-se rapidamente.
Where to use 'Fazer Vento'
At the Mall
Shoppers rushing for sales.
The Office
Rushing to a meeting.
Public Transport
Sprinting for the subway.
At Home
Kids playing tag.
Practice Bank
2 exercisesA Maria está com tanta pressa que passou por nós a ___.
Only 'fazer vento' idiomatically describes the act of rushing past someone at high speed.
No escritório, toda a gente anda de um lado para o outro a ___.
In a busy office context, people move quickly between tasks, 'making wind' as they go.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is an idiom for speed. To say it is windy, you should use está vento or está a fazer vento (though the latter is less common than just está vento).
It is a bit informal for a presentation, but fine for a casual chat with colleagues. For example: O cliente passou por aqui a fazer vento.
Not usually. It is more of an observation of speed, though it can imply the person was being a bit too rushed to be polite.
Yes, you can use it to describe yourself if you were in a huge rush. Tive de sair de casa a fazer vento!
Yes, it is understood in both, though regional slang for 'speed' might vary. It is a very safe, universal expression.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but you could say someone is a passo de caracol (at a snail's pace).
Yes, you can use it for cars or bikes. A mota passou a fazer vento means the motorcycle sped by.
It's more descriptive than correr (to run). It emphasizes the effect of the speed on the surrounding environment.
You conjugate the verb fazer. For example: Eles fazem vento, Ele fez vento, Nós fazíamos vento.
Yes, you could use passar rapidamente or estar com pressa. These are more literal and professional.
Related Phrases
num ápice
in a flash / very quickly
a voar
flying (moving very fast)
num abrir e fechar de olhos
in the blink of an eye
a mil
at a thousand (full speed/very busy)
