Home › Idioms

dar-se conta

Meaning: to realize or come to understand something.

Language: Portuguese

Literally: to give oneself account

Category: Daily Life

Origin: The phrase treats understanding as an accounting—a settling of mental books where one recognizes what was previously hidden.

More idioms — Daily Life

  • botar defeito — to criticize something excessively or find fault where none reasonably exists.
  • forçar a barra — to push beyond reasonable limits; to insist or persist too aggressively.
  • sair ganhando — to benefit or profit from a situation; to come out ahead.
  • de tempos em tempos — from time to time; occasionally or intermittently.
  • à toa — To drift aimlessly or act without purpose or direction.
  • homem dos sete ofícios — A person who can do many different jobs or possesses many different skills, though often…

More Portuguese idioms

  • a cereja do bolo — the crowning touch; something wonderful that completes something already good.
  • brincar com fogo — to engage in a risky or dangerous behavior; to put oneself in harm's way.
  • nu e cru — To speak with brutal, unvarnished honesty, holding nothing back.
  • nem carne nem peixe — Something or someone that does not fit into any clear category and remains ambiguous or u…
  • olho da tempestade — A moment of unexpected calm or peace in the middle of chaos or crisis.
  • cair em saco roto — Words or advice that fail to reach their intended audience; to be ignored or dismissed.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…