dar uma de João sem braço
To play dumb
Wörtlich: to give one of John without an arm
Use it when someone is obviously faking ignorance to dodge work or an awkward social obligation.
In 15 Sekunden
- Pretending to be clueless to avoid doing a specific task.
- Acting like you don't understand to escape trouble or responsibility.
- Calling out someone's fake ignorance in a casual, colorful way.
Bedeutung
It means pretending you don't understand something just to get out of a responsibility or avoid trouble. It is the art of acting clueless or 'playing the fool' on purpose.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Calling out a lazy roommate
Não dá uma de João sem braço, a louça está lá desde ontem!
Don't play dumb, the dishes have been there since yesterday!
A colleague 'forgetting' a meeting
Ele deu uma de João sem braço e não apareceu na reunião.
He played the fool and didn't show up to the meeting.
Texting a friend who owes money
Vai dar uma de João sem braço ou vai me pagar o que deve?
Are you going to play dumb or pay me what you owe?
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase likely originates from a historical tactic where men would feign physical disabilities, like a missing arm, to avoid military service or heavy labor. It has evolved into a cornerstone of Brazilian social commentary on the 'jeitinho'—the local knack for bending rules or avoiding duties through cleverness. It reflects a cultural obsession with identifying who is being 'esperto' (clever) versus who is being 'otário' (the fool).
The Short Version
In fast conversation, Brazilians often just say 'Não se faça de João'. It's quicker and carries the same weight.
Don't use it for real accidents
If someone genuinely forgot something important, calling them a 'João sem braço' can come off as very aggressive or rude.
In 15 Sekunden
- Pretending to be clueless to avoid doing a specific task.
- Acting like you don't understand to escape trouble or responsibility.
- Calling out someone's fake ignorance in a casual, colorful way.
What It Means
Dar uma de João sem braço is the ultimate social escape hatch. You use it when someone is clearly trying to dodge a task. They pretend they didn't hear you. They act like they don't know how to do it. It is intentional ignorance used as a strategy. You are essentially calling someone out for being a fake-clueless person.
How To Use It
The verb dar (to give) is the engine here. You conjugate it to match who is acting dumb. If your friend is doing it, say Você está dando uma de João sem braço. It works like a charm in casual conversations. You can also use it as a noun-phrase to describe the act itself. It is punchy, rhythmic, and very Brazilian.
When To Use It
Use it when the laziness is obvious. Picture a roommate seeing a pile of dirty dishes. They suddenly start staring at a wall intensely. That is a classic João sem braço moment. It is perfect for office settings when a colleague 'forgets' a deadline. Use it with friends when they 'forget' it is their turn to pay. It adds a bit of flavor to your frustration.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in high-stakes professional meetings with your big boss. It is a bit too colorful for a performance review. Do not use it if someone is actually confused. If they really don't know, you will just sound mean. It implies the person is lying or being lazy. Keep it for situations where the 'cluelessness' is definitely an act.
Cultural Background
Legend says this comes from old times in Portugal or Brazil. Men would pretend to have a physical disability to avoid being drafted. If you have no arm, you cannot carry a rifle. Over time, the 'missing arm' became a metaphor for any fake excuse. It captures the 'jeitinho'—the Brazilian way of navigating rules. It is about being clever, even if it is a bit dishonest.
Common Variations
You might hear people shorten it to just dar uma de João. Everyone knows exactly what you mean. Sometimes people say se fazer de desentendido for a more neutral tone. But the full version has much more personality. It is a staple of Brazilian Portuguese that bridges generations. Even your grandma knows when you are playing the João sem braço with your chores.
Nutzungshinweise
This is a B2-level idiom because it requires understanding cultural nuance and verb conjugation within a fixed expression. It is strictly informal to neutral.
The Short Version
In fast conversation, Brazilians often just say 'Não se faça de João'. It's quicker and carries the same weight.
Don't use it for real accidents
If someone genuinely forgot something important, calling them a 'João sem braço' can come off as very aggressive or rude.
The 'Jeitinho' Connection
This phrase is the cousin of 'dar um jeito'. While 'um jeito' is positive problem-solving, 'João sem braço' is the lazy side of Brazilian ingenuity.
Beispiele
6Não dá uma de João sem braço, a louça está lá desde ontem!
Don't play dumb, the dishes have been there since yesterday!
Directly confronting someone about a shared chore.
Ele deu uma de João sem braço e não apareceu na reunião.
He played the fool and didn't show up to the meeting.
Describing a coworker's avoidance tactic to another peer.
Vai dar uma de João sem braço ou vai me pagar o que deve?
Are you going to play dumb or pay me what you owe?
A blunt but common way to handle money issues among friends.
Pare de dar uma de João sem braço e venha arrumar seu quarto!
Stop acting like you can't hear me and come clean your room!
Used by parents when a child is intentionally ignoring a command.
Eu tentei falar sobre o problema, mas ela deu uma de João sem braço.
I tried to talk about the problem, but she acted like she didn't know anything.
Expressing frustration over someone avoiding emotional accountability.
Na hora de pagar a conta, todo mundo dá uma de João sem braço.
When it's time to pay the bill, everyone pretends they don't see it.
A classic social observation about group dynamics.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct form of the verb 'dar' to complete the sentence.
O meu irmão sempre ___ uma de João sem braço quando minha mãe pede ajuda.
The subject is 'o meu irmão' (he), so the verb 'dar' must be conjugated in the third person singular present tense: 'dá'.
Identify the missing part of the idiom.
Não adianta dar uma de João sem ___, eu sei que você viu a mensagem.
The full idiom is 'João sem braço' (John without an arm). Using other body parts would break the expression.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality Scale of 'Dar uma de João sem braço'
Used with close friends and siblings.
Para de dar uma de João sem braço!
Used with colleagues you are comfortable with.
Ele deu uma de João sem braço na entrega.
Too colorful for a board meeting or legal document.
N/A - Avoid usage here.
When to Spot a 'João sem braço'
House Chores
Pretending not to see the trash is full.
Group Projects
Ignoring the WhatsApp group when tasks are assigned.
Splitting Bills
Going to the bathroom exactly when the check arrives.
Traffic Stops
Telling the cop you 'didn't see' the red light.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, exactly. It is the Portuguese equivalent of pretending you don't know what's going on to avoid a task, like saying Ele deu uma de João sem braço para não ajudar.
Only if you have a very close, friendly relationship. In a strict professional setting, it might sound too informal or accusatory.
No, the expression is fixed as João sem braço regardless of the gender of the person you are talking about.
It's not a swear word, but it is an accusation of laziness or dishonesty. Use it playfully with friends, but be careful with strangers.
The verb dar is the most common, as in dar uma de.... Occasionally people use fazer-se de João sem braço.
João is the most common name in Portuguese, similar to 'John Doe' in English, used here to represent an 'everyman' character.
It's great for informal emails, texts, or fiction dialogue, but avoid it in academic or formal business reports.
Yes, it is widely understood and used in both Brazil and Portugal, though it is particularly iconic in Brazilian slang.
People will understand you are trying to use the idiom, but it will sound wrong. The 'arm' is a specific part of the historical origin.
You could say Não se faça de desentendido, which means 'don't act like you didn't understand,' and is much more neutral.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Se fazer de desentendido
Comer quieto
Dar um migué
Ficar em cima da muro
Dar uma de louco
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