Nem que a vaca tussa
Meaning: No way; under no circumstances.
Language: Portuguese
Literally: Not even if the cow coughs
Category: Animals
Origin: A cow coughing on command is so absurd it will never happen — the cheerfully impossible Brazilian way of saying never.
Equivalents in other languages
- Russian: Когда рак на горе свистнет (Kogda rak na gore svistnet) — literally: When a crayfish whistles on the mountain
- French: Quand les poules auront des dents — literally: When hens have teeth
- English: when hell freezes over
- French: Aux calendes grecques — literally: At the Greek calends
- French: À la Saint-Glinglin — literally: On Saint Glinglin's day
More idioms — Animals
- 亡羊补牢 (Wáng yáng bǔ láo) — It's not too late to act after a setback to prevent further loss.
- Passer du coq à l'âne — To switch topics abruptly and illogically.
- To bury your head in the sand — To refuse to face an obvious danger.
- Die Kuh vom Eis holen — To resolve a precarious situation.
- Eulen nach Athen tragen — To do something utterly pointless.
- Hummeln im Hintern haben — To be unable to sit still.
More Portuguese idioms
- Tirar o cavalo da chuva — To give up on an expectation.
- Pagar mico — To embarrass yourself publicly.
- Procurar pelo em ovo — To nitpick over nothing.
- Ficar a ver navios — To be left disappointed and empty-handed.
- 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.
From our compliments & insults
- És uma joia — You're a gem — a precious, lovely person.
- Cabeça de alho chocho — A forgetful scatterbrain whose thoughts won't stay put.
- Você é um amor — You're a sweetheart — warm, caring, and impossible not to like.