IdiomBody & Senses
Portuguese
Portuguesena ponta da língua
Meaning: Known by heart and ready to say; also, almost but not quite remembered.
Literally: On the tip of the tongue
Example: “O nome do ator está na ponta da língua, mas não me lembro.” — The actor's name is on the tip of my tongue, but I can't remember it.
English equivalent: On the tip of one's tongue
Equivalents in other languages
English: on the tip of one's tongue
Origin: Something on the tip of the tongue is ready to come out. In Portuguese, ter na ponta da língua most often means knowing something by heart, ready to say it at once, like a lesson or a phone number; it can also mean, as in English, almost remembering a word. No particular story lies behind it.
More Portuguese idioms
- 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.
- sujo falando do mal lavado Hypocritical criticism from someone guilty of the same fault being criticized.
- pôr os pontos nos is To clarify a matter by spelling out details explicitly.
- Matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada só To get two benefits from a single effort.
- Diz o roto ao nu: porque não te vestes tu? Said when someone criticizes another for a fault they share.
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