Hotel Roma 7 Portuguese expressions: their origin and meaning
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7 Portuguese expressions: their origin and meaning
June 28 2022
Culture 
Put Rossio on Rua da Betesga
One of the smallest streets in the city is famous for the popular expression that joins it to Rossio.
in the same sentence - Rua da Betesga.
“Meter” a huge square like Rossio in a narrow street like Betesga would be a
impossible task to accomplish. As such, this expression refers to the impossibility of
something big to fit in a small space or something time consuming to be realized in a way
fast.
“Betesga”, by itself, has the meaning of alley, alley or dead end.
Resvés Campo de Ourique
If it was “Resvés Campo de Ourique”, it was a close call. Used to mention something that has been
close to happening, this expression goes back to the earthquake of 1755, responsible for the
destruction from Lisbon to the Campo de Ourique area. This neighborhood has remained intact, but has been
almost.
As a result, the expression “Resvés Campo de Ourique” was born, which gained strength until the
nowadays and is used to represent something that was just right, on the tangent or very close to the
limit.
Carmo and Trindade fell
Carmo and Trindade were the two most important convents in Lisbon's Bairro Alto. As
earthquake of November 1, 1755 both collapsed, giving rise to the famous expression “Caiu o
Carmo and the Trinity”.
Popularly used to designate a great confusion, misfortune or event with
negative consequences, can also be used with a sense of irony, when fearing
serious consequences of unimportant causes.
Works of Santa Engracia
The expression “like the works of Santa Engrácia” refers to something slow or that will never arrive
to happen. Your origin? It is due to the fact that this church took 350 years to be
built.
Legend has it that its construction was cursed as a result of an impossible love.
Simão Pires was a New Christian who every day visited his beloved Violante, made a novice at the
strength for his father at the convent of Santa Clara. Simão did not deny his love for the young woman and rode
every night to meet him at the convent, located next to the church of Santa Engrácia.
On the night they would flee together, the reliquary of Santa Engracia was stolen and Simão accused and
condemned to death at the stake. It is said that at the moment of being burned he cried out to his
innocence: “It is as right to die innocent as the works of Santa Engrácia never again
finish!”
Years later, the real culprit was found and forgiven by young Violante.
First it's strange, then it's ingrained
For those who didn't expect to find the words Fernando Pessoa and Coca-Cola in the same sentence,
here is an expression that concerns both!
“First you get weird, then you get in” was the iconic slogan created for one of the brands
most famous in the world, Coca-Cola, by one of the most acclaimed poets of all time, Fernando
Person. At the time, however, neither was recognized.
It was the year 1929 when Pessoa, collaborating with the first advertising agency
Portuguese, developed this slogan for Coca-Cola. Although much appreciated by the brand,
it was never used to sell the product. On the other hand, the expression persists until
to the present day and serves to designate something that at first is strange to us, but which with the habit
ends up becoming natural or pleasant.
French style
Used in Portugal since the first French invasion, in 1807, this expression refers to the
luxurious way in which general Junot (Napoleon's aide-de-camp) and his officers lived
in Lisbon. “Gala” dresses were strutted with great ostentation.
Currently, living “the big way and the French way” refers to living with wealth, eccentricity or
perks.
Staying in cod waters
When something was going to happen and it didn't? He stayed in “codfish waters”. Despite
being a typically Portuguese expression, this refers to the fishing activity of the
cod fish in the North Atlantic seas, where many ships were shipwrecked.
Something that "was without effect" or "came to nothing" is thus associated with this expression.
Now that we have “navigated” through some of the most typical Portuguese expressions, we invite you to
discover the most popular places in the capital.
How about we start with five viewpoints in Lisbon to photograph, contemplate and relax?
Discover them here!
Return
One of the smallest streets in the city is famous for the popular expression that joins it to Rossio.
in the same sentence - Rua da Betesga.
“Meter” a huge square like Rossio in a narrow street like Betesga would be a
impossible task to accomplish. As such, this expression refers to the impossibility of
something big to fit in a small space or something time consuming to be realized in a way
fast.
“Betesga”, by itself, has the meaning of alley, alley or dead end.
Resvés Campo de Ourique
If it was “Resvés Campo de Ourique”, it was a close call. Used to mention something that has been
close to happening, this expression goes back to the earthquake of 1755, responsible for the
destruction from Lisbon to the Campo de Ourique area. This neighborhood has remained intact, but has been
almost.
As a result, the expression “Resvés Campo de Ourique” was born, which gained strength until the
nowadays and is used to represent something that was just right, on the tangent or very close to the
limit.
Carmo and Trindade fell
Carmo and Trindade were the two most important convents in Lisbon's Bairro Alto. As
earthquake of November 1, 1755 both collapsed, giving rise to the famous expression “Caiu o
Carmo and the Trinity”.
Popularly used to designate a great confusion, misfortune or event with
negative consequences, can also be used with a sense of irony, when fearing
serious consequences of unimportant causes.
Works of Santa Engracia
The expression “like the works of Santa Engrácia” refers to something slow or that will never arrive
to happen. Your origin? It is due to the fact that this church took 350 years to be
built.
Legend has it that its construction was cursed as a result of an impossible love.
Simão Pires was a New Christian who every day visited his beloved Violante, made a novice at the
strength for his father at the convent of Santa Clara. Simão did not deny his love for the young woman and rode
every night to meet him at the convent, located next to the church of Santa Engrácia.
On the night they would flee together, the reliquary of Santa Engracia was stolen and Simão accused and
condemned to death at the stake. It is said that at the moment of being burned he cried out to his
innocence: “It is as right to die innocent as the works of Santa Engrácia never again
finish!”
Years later, the real culprit was found and forgiven by young Violante.
First it's strange, then it's ingrained
For those who didn't expect to find the words Fernando Pessoa and Coca-Cola in the same sentence,
here is an expression that concerns both!
“First you get weird, then you get in” was the iconic slogan created for one of the brands
most famous in the world, Coca-Cola, by one of the most acclaimed poets of all time, Fernando
Person. At the time, however, neither was recognized.
It was the year 1929 when Pessoa, collaborating with the first advertising agency
Portuguese, developed this slogan for Coca-Cola. Although much appreciated by the brand,
it was never used to sell the product. On the other hand, the expression persists until
to the present day and serves to designate something that at first is strange to us, but which with the habit
ends up becoming natural or pleasant.
French style
Used in Portugal since the first French invasion, in 1807, this expression refers to the
luxurious way in which general Junot (Napoleon's aide-de-camp) and his officers lived
in Lisbon. “Gala” dresses were strutted with great ostentation.
Currently, living “the big way and the French way” refers to living with wealth, eccentricity or
perks.
Staying in cod waters
When something was going to happen and it didn't? He stayed in “codfish waters”. Despite
being a typically Portuguese expression, this refers to the fishing activity of the
cod fish in the North Atlantic seas, where many ships were shipwrecked.
Something that "was without effect" or "came to nothing" is thus associated with this expression.
Now that we have “navigated” through some of the most typical Portuguese expressions, we invite you to
discover the most popular places in the capital.
How about we start with five viewpoints in Lisbon to photograph, contemplate and relax?
Discover them here!