unha e carne
Meaning: Extremely close or inseparable; bound together in an intimate connection.
Language: Portuguese
Literally: fingernail and flesh
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The phrase draws on the natural bond between a fingernail and the flesh beneath it, which are physically integrated and cannot be separated without damage.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- morde e assopra — A cycle of conflict and reconciliation; repeated fighting followed by making peace.
- ombro a ombro — On equal terms, standing together as peers.
- morrer de rir — To laugh very hard or uproariously.
- nu e cru — To speak with brutal, unvarnished honesty, holding nothing back.
- na ponta da língua — To have something in one's mind but be unable to recall or express it completely.
- dar um tiro no pé — To harm oneself through one's own actions; to undermine one's own interests.
More Portuguese idioms
- fugir como o diabo foge da cruz — To flee or escape with great speed and urgency.
- 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.
From our tongue twisters
- 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.