IdiomAnimals
Portuguese
Portuguesematar cachorro a grito
Meaning: To be extremely poor or destitute.
Literally: To kill a dog by shouting
Example: “Depois de perder o emprego, estava a matar cachorro a grito.” — After losing his job, he was as poor as a church mouse.
English equivalent: Poor as a church mouse
Equivalents in other languages
English: poor as a church mouse
Origin: Someone who has to kill a dog by shouting at it has nothing else to kill it with: not even a stick or a bullet. The phrase is colloquial Brazilian for being completely broke or in desperate straits. Its origin is not documented.
More Portuguese idioms
- mandar bala To pursue something with enthusiasm and vigor.
- na ponta da língua Known by heart and ready to say; also, almost but not quite remembered.
- ao fim e ao cabo After everything is considered; ultimately; in the final analysis.
- fazer uma tempestade num copo de água To make an excessive fuss over something trivial.
- dar um tiro no pé To harm oneself through one's own actions; to undermine one's own interests.
- sujo falando do mal lavado Hypocritical criticism from someone guilty of the same fault being criticized.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
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- A aranha arranha a rã. A rã arranha a aranha. Contrasts the soft single r of aranha against the hard rolled rr of arranha — one letter…
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