dar cabo de
To ruin
بهطور تحتاللفظی: To give end of
Use it when something is totally ruined, broken, or when you are completely exhausted.
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- Used to describe ruining, destroying, or breaking something completely.
- Commonly used when you are physically exhausted or tired.
- Works for both physical objects and abstract concepts like plans.
- Requires the preposition 'de' to connect to the object.
معنی
Think of this as the Portuguese way to say you've totally wrecked something. It's used when something is broken, ruined, or completely finished off, whether it's a physical object or your own energy levels.
مثالهای کلیدی
3 از 6Talking about a broken phone
Dei cabo do meu telemóvel novo.
I ruined my new phone.
After a very long gym session
Este treino deu cabo de mim!
This workout destroyed me!
Discussing a failed project at work
A falta de orçamento deu cabo do projeto.
The lack of budget ruined the project.
زمینه فرهنگی
The word 'cabo' refers to a cape (landform) or a cable/rope. The expression likely stems from the idea of reaching the very end of a rope's length, signifying there's nothing left. It is deeply embedded in European Portuguese and is one of those 'essential' idioms for sounding authentic.
The 'De' Rule
Always remember the 'de'. It's never just 'dar cabo algo'. It must be 'dar cabo DE algo'. It contracts like usual: do, da, dos, das.
Don't be too literal
If you say 'Vou dar cabo de ti' to a stranger, it sounds like a physical threat! Only use it with friends as a joke about tiring them out.
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- Used to describe ruining, destroying, or breaking something completely.
- Commonly used when you are physically exhausted or tired.
- Works for both physical objects and abstract concepts like plans.
- Requires the preposition 'de' to connect to the object.
What It Means
Dar cabo de is a versatile expression that means to destroy or ruin something. It implies a sense of completion or finality. If you break your phone, you dar cabo of it. If a long hike makes your legs ache, the hike deu cabo of your legs. It is more punchy and evocative than the simple verb estragar (to spoil).
How To Use It
You use it by following the phrase with the preposition de. This links the action to the victim of the destruction. It works for physical objects like a car or a computer. It also works perfectly for abstract things like a plan or a reputation. You can even use it for people, but don't worry, it usually means exhausting them, not actually hurting them!
When To Use It
Use it when you want to sound natural and expressive. It is great for complaining about a bad day at work. Use it when your toddler breaks a vase. It is perfect for telling a friend that a spicy meal ruined your stomach. It adds a bit of drama to your storytelling. It makes you sound like a local who is truly feeling the frustration.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using it in extremely formal legal or scientific documents. In those cases, use destruir or danificar. Don't use it if you are trying to be very delicate about someone's feelings. If you tell a chef they deram cabo of the steak, they might take it quite personally. It is a strong expression, so use it when the 'ruining' is significant.
Cultural Background
This phrase has a nautical flavor in its history. A cabo is a thick rope or cable used on ships. To 'give the end' of a rope originally meant reaching the limit or finishing a task. Over time, it evolved into the idea of finishing something off entirely. In Portugal, it is a staple of daily conversation. It reflects the expressive and sometimes fatalistic nature of the language.
Common Variations
You might hear dar cabo do juízo which means to drive someone crazy. Another common one is dar cabo da cabeça, usually meaning to think too much or stress out. In Brazil, you might hear acabar com more often. However, dar cabo de remains a classic in European Portuguese. It’s the gold standard for expressing that something is beyond repair.
نکات کاربردی
The phrase is neutral-informal. It is perfectly acceptable in daily life, with family, and among colleagues, but avoid it in high-level academic or legal writing.
The 'De' Rule
Always remember the 'de'. It's never just 'dar cabo algo'. It must be 'dar cabo DE algo'. It contracts like usual: do, da, dos, das.
Don't be too literal
If you say 'Vou dar cabo de ti' to a stranger, it sounds like a physical threat! Only use it with friends as a joke about tiring them out.
The Drama Factor
Portuguese people love a bit of drama. Using this instead of 'partir' (to break) shows you're really invested in how bad the situation is.
مثالها
6Dei cabo do meu telemóvel novo.
I ruined my new phone.
A very common way to admit you broke a gadget.
Este treino deu cabo de mim!
This workout destroyed me!
Refers to physical exhaustion rather than actual damage.
A falta de orçamento deu cabo do projeto.
The lack of budget ruined the project.
Used here for abstract concepts in a professional setting.
A chuva deu cabo dos nossos planos para a praia.
The rain ruined our beach plans.
Perfect for casual complaints via text.
O barulho está a dar cabo da minha paciência.
The noise is destroying my patience.
Used to describe losing one's temper or patience.
O cão deu cabo do boneco da criança.
The dog destroyed the child's doll.
Describes physical destruction by a pet.
خودت رو بسنج
Choose the correct preposition to complete the phrase.
Eu dei cabo ___ computador.
The phrase is 'dar cabo de'. Since 'computador' is masculine, 'de + o' becomes 'do'.
Which verb form fits the past tense for 'I ruined'?
Ontem, eu ___ cabo do meu jantar porque queimei a carne.
'Dei' is the first-person singular past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) of the verb 'dar'.
🎉 امتیاز: /2
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Formality of 'Dar cabo de'
Used with friends to complain about being tired.
Dei cabo de mim no ginásio!
Standard way to say something is broken.
O granizo deu cabo do telhado.
Usually replaced by 'danificar' or 'prejudicar'.
A crise deu cabo da economia.
Where to use 'Dar cabo de'
Physical Damage
Breaking a glass
Exhaustion
After a marathon
Annoyance
Losing patience
Ruined Plans
Rain on a picnic
سوالات متداول
10 سوالYes, but usually to mean 'exhaust' or 'tire out'. For example, As crianças deram cabo de mim hoje means the kids exhausted me today.
It's similar, but dar cabo de is stronger and more idiomatic. Estragar is just 'to spoil', while this feels like 'to finish off'.
Not exactly slang, but it is very colloquial. You can use it in most everyday situations without sounding rude.
You would say Dei cabo de tudo. It’s a very common way to express a big mistake.
Probably not. It's a bit too casual. Stick to prejudicar or comprometer if you're talking about professional setbacks.
Historically yes, but in this phrase, you shouldn't think about cables. Just treat the whole phrase as one unit meaning 'to ruin'.
Acabar com is more like 'to end' or 'to put a stop to'. Dar cabo de focuses more on the destruction or damage caused.
It is understood, but much less common than in Portugal. Brazilians are more likely to say acabar com or detonar.
Yes! If you eat a whole cake by yourself, you can jokingly say Dei cabo do bolo sozinho.
If you want to be more polite or formal, use danificar (for objects) or esgotar (for being tired).
عبارات مرتبط
Ficar de rastos
Fazer num num
Mandar para o lixo
Dar o berro
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