PortugueseFicar a ver navios
Meaning: To be left disappointed and empty-handed.
Literally: To be left watching ships
Example: “Cheguei tarde à promoção e fiquei a ver navios.” — I got to the sale too late and went away empty-handed.
English equivalent: To go away empty-handed
Origin: The most common explanation ties it to Sebastianism: King Sebastian of Portugal vanished at the battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578, his body was never found, and Portugal fell to the Spanish crown. Many believed he would return by sea, and people are said to have climbed the Alto de Santa Catarina in Lisbon to watch for his ships, which never came. A simpler explanation points to families waiting at Lisbon's harbor for sailors who did not return. Neither is documented.
Equivalents in other languages
Russian: Остаться с носом (Ostat'sya s nosom) Literally: To be left with the nose
Italian: a bocca asciutta Literally: With dry mouth
English: go away empty-handed
More Portuguese idioms
- Onde Judas perdeu as botas In the middle of nowhere; the back of beyond.
- Acertar na mosca To be exactly right; to hit the bullseye.
- Dar com os burros n'água To fail despite all your effort.
- Tirar o pai da forca Said of something done in frantic urgency.
- Chorar de barriga cheia To complain when you have nothing to complain about.
- volta e meia Occasionally or now and then.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Sol na eira e chuva no nabal You want two things that cannot both happen.
- Há males que vêm por bem Some misfortunes turn out for the best.
- É difícil agradar a gregos e troianos You can't satisfy both sides of a dispute.
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