In 15 Seconds
- Literally means lowering a price during a purchase.
- Figuratively means cutting someone some slack or being patient.
- Essential for navigating social friction and street markets.
Meaning
While it literally means to reduce a price, it is most often used figuratively to mean 'cutting someone some slack' or not taking someone's bad behavior too seriously.
Key Examples
3 of 6At a street market
Moço, esse abacaxi está caro, dá um desconto?
Sir, this pineapple is expensive, can you give me a discount?
Defending a tired friend
Ela trabalhou 12 horas hoje, dá um desconto para ela.
She worked 12 hours today, cut her some slack.
Professional negotiation
Poderíamos fechar o contrato se vocês dessem um desconto no frete.
We could close the contract if you gave a discount on the shipping.
Cultural Background
The phrase is extremely common in daily life, reflecting the 'jeitinho' culture of flexibility. While understood, it is slightly less common than in Brazil, where it is a staple of informal speech. Used to maintain team morale when someone is underperforming due to temporary personal issues. Used by parents to teach children to be more patient with siblings or relatives.
Imperative usage
Use the imperative 'Dá um desconto' to sound most natural when giving advice.
Avoid in formal settings
Don't use this with your boss or in a job interview; it's too casual.
In 15 Seconds
- Literally means lowering a price during a purchase.
- Figuratively means cutting someone some slack or being patient.
- Essential for navigating social friction and street markets.
What It Means
Dar um desconto is a versatile gem in Portuguese. On the surface, you use it at the mall. You ask the clerk for a lower price. But in daily life, it is about empathy. It means overlooking a friend's grumpy mood. It means ignoring a mistake because someone is tired. You are basically saying, "I will let this one slide."
How To Use It
You treat it like a regular verb. You can say pode dar um desconto? when buying a souvenir. Or you tell a friend dá um desconto! when they are being too hard on you. It works for both money and human errors. It is the ultimate social lubricant in Brazil.
When To Use It
Use it when your partner is cranky after work. Use it when a colleague misses a deadline due to a family issue. Use it at the street market (feira) to save a few Reais. It shows you are flexible and not a rigid robot. People appreciate the grace you are giving them.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it in very serious legal settings. Do not use it if someone has done something truly unforgivable. It is for minor slip-ups, not major betrayals. Also, avoid using the slang version in a high-stakes corporate board meeting. Keep it light and human.
Cultural Background
Brazilians value the jeitinho, the art of finding a way. Dar um desconto is part of that social negotiation. We are generally warm and understand that life is messy. Being flexible with others is a sign of being a 'good person' (gente boa). It is about prioritizing the relationship over the cold hard facts.
Common Variations
You might hear dar um descontinho to make it sound cuter or less intrusive. Sometimes people say faz um desconto when specifically talking about money. In very informal settings, you might hear quebra essa pra mim, which is a cousin to this phrase. It all points back to the same spirit of flexibility.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral-to-informal. Use it freely with friends, family, and vendors, but switch to more formal vocabulary like 'abatimento' in legal or high-finance documents.
Imperative usage
Use the imperative 'Dá um desconto' to sound most natural when giving advice.
Avoid in formal settings
Don't use this with your boss or in a job interview; it's too casual.
Empathy first
This phrase is a great way to show you are an empathetic person.
Examples
6Moço, esse abacaxi está caro, dá um desconto?
Sir, this pineapple is expensive, can you give me a discount?
A classic literal use for price negotiation.
Ela trabalhou 12 horas hoje, dá um desconto para ela.
She worked 12 hours today, cut her some slack.
Used here to ask for empathy toward someone's behavior.
Poderíamos fechar o contrato se vocês dessem um desconto no frete.
We could close the contract if you gave a discount on the shipping.
Formal but direct business usage.
Nossa, que mau humor! Dá um desconto, eu só fiz uma piada.
Wow, such a bad mood! Chill out, I only made a joke.
Used to tell someone they are overreacting.
Eu ainda não tomei café, então me dá um desconto se eu for grosso.
I haven't had coffee yet, so forgive me if I'm rude.
Pre-emptively asking for patience with a joke.
Ele está passando por um divórcio, temos que dar um desconto.
He is going through a divorce, we have to be understanding.
Expressing deep empathy for someone's difficult situation.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.
Ele foi um pouco grosso, mas ____ para ele, ele está muito estressado.
The phrase 'dá um desconto' is the correct idiom for showing leniency.
Which situation is appropriate for using 'dar desconto'?
Choose the best scenario.
The phrase is informal and used for social empathy, not formal or financial contexts.
Match the Portuguese phrase with its English equivalent.
Match: 'Dá um desconto' -> ?
In a figurative sense, 'dar desconto' means to cut someone some slack.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Não acredito que ele esqueceu meu aniversário!' B: '____, ele está trabalhando muito ultimamente.'
The context requires an expression of empathy and leniency.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEle foi um pouco grosso, mas ____ para ele, ele está muito estressado.
The phrase 'dá um desconto' is the correct idiom for showing leniency.
Choose the best scenario.
The phrase is informal and used for social empathy, not formal or financial contexts.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
In a figurative sense, 'dar desconto' means to cut someone some slack.
A: 'Não acredito que ele esqueceu meu aniversário!' B: '____, ele está trabalhando muito ultimamente.'
The context requires an expression of empathy and leniency.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but the context will make it clear. 'O vendedor me deu um desconto' is financial.
No, it's friendly and informal. It's meant to reduce tension.
Yes, 'Dá um desconto' is perfect for 'você'.
It is most common in Brazil, but understood in Portugal.
Use 'seja mais compreensivo' instead.
Yes, 'Eu preciso me dar um desconto' (I need to cut myself some slack).
It's an idiom, not really slang, but definitely informal.
It's more about being lenient than full forgiveness.
des-CON-to, with a nasal 'o'.
Only if you are very close to the person you are emailing.
Related Phrases
Pegar leve
synonymTo go easy on someone.
Dar um tempo
similarTo give someone a break/space.
Ser compreensivo
similarTo be understanding.
Passar pano
contrastTo excuse/cover up bad behavior.
