Home › Idioms

pôr os pontos nos is

Meaning: To clarify a matter by spelling out details explicitly.

Language: Portuguese

Literally: to put the dots on the i's

Category: Daily Life

Origin: A literal image from writing and typography: adding the final diacritical marks that complete a letter's proper form, used metaphorically for completing an explanation.

More idioms — Daily Life

  • hoe de vork in de steel zit — to understand the real situation or hidden mechanics of something.
  • over de brug komen — to hand over money or pay what is owed.
  • met de Franse slag — to do something in a careless, sloppy, or half-finished manner.
  • van de oude stempel — old-fashioned or adhering to outdated styles and ways of thinking.
  • hout snijden — to be convincing or logically sound; to hold up under scrutiny.
  • de teerling is geworpen — an irrevocable decision has been made; the course of action is now set in motion.

More Portuguese idioms

  • Engolir sapos — To put up with unpleasant things without complaining.
  • Pagar o pato — To take the blame for something you didn't do.
  • Descascar o abacaxi — To solve a very difficult, thorny problem.
  • Empurrar com a barriga — To procrastinate; to keep delaying something.
  • Matar a cobra e mostrar o pau — To prove you actually did what you claim.
  • dar um jeito — Find a creative solution or workaround, often bending rules pragmatically.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…