IdiomBody & Senses
Portuguese
Portugueseunha e carne
Meaning: Extremely close or inseparable; bound together in an intimate connection.
Literally: Fingernail and flesh
Example: “As duas irmãs são unha e carne desde pequenas.” — The two sisters have been thick as thieves since they were little.
English equivalent: Thick as thieves
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: Ser uña y carne Literally: To be fingernail and flesh
French: S'entendre comme larrons en foire Literally: To get on like thieves at a fair
English: thick as thieves
Origin: The fingernail grows so tightly into the flesh beneath it that the two cannot be parted without pain, so two people who are unha e carne (nail and flesh) are inseparable. Spanish says the same, ser uña y carne. No first use is documented.
More Portuguese idioms
- fugir como o diabo foge da cruz To avoid something or someone at all costs.
- falar com as paredes To speak to someone who does not listen or respond; to waste one's words.
- carta branca complete freedom to act without restrictions or needing approval.
- de vez em nunca very rarely; almost never.
- cuspir no prato que comeu to betray or show ingratitude toward someone who has helped you.
- arrastar pela lama to publicly humiliate or damage someone's reputation.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- 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…
- O rato roeu a roupa do rei de Roma; a rainha com raiva roeu o resto. An unstoppable 'r' trill drill — every key word begins or ends with the Portuguese r.
- Um tigre, dois tigres, três tigres tristes triscam trigo num trigal. A 'tr' cluster drill that adds a sad adjective to make the alliteration worse.
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