andar à deriva
To drift
Littéralement: To walk at the drift
Use it to describe someone—or yourself—who is currently living without a clear plan or purpose.
En 15 secondes
- Used to describe feeling lost or lacking a clear life direction.
- Rooted in Portugal's deep maritime history and seafaring culture.
- Can apply to careers, relationships, or general emotional states.
Signification
It describes the feeling of wandering aimlessly or being lost in life. Imagine a boat floating on the ocean without an engine or a destination.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Talking about a friend's career
Desde que ele saiu da empresa, anda um pouco à deriva.
Since he left the company, he's been drifting a bit.
Reflecting on your own life
Sinto que a minha vida está a andar à deriva ultimamente.
I feel like my life is drifting lately.
Discussing a failing project
Sem um líder, este projeto anda à deriva.
Without a leader, this project is drifting aimlessly.
Contexte culturel
This phrase stems from Portugal's deep 'Age of Discovery' roots and maritime identity. In a nation defined by the Atlantic, nautical metaphors are the standard way to express emotional states. It reflects 'Saudade' and the melancholy of being at the mercy of the elements.
Verb Choice Matters
Use 'andar' if you want to emphasize that this has been happening for a while. Use 'estar' for a sudden realization of being lost.
Don't confuse with 'derivar'
The verb 'derivar' often means 'to derive from' in a logical sense. Stick to the full phrase 'à deriva' for the 'drifting' meaning.
En 15 secondes
- Used to describe feeling lost or lacking a clear life direction.
- Rooted in Portugal's deep maritime history and seafaring culture.
- Can apply to careers, relationships, or general emotional states.
What It Means
Andar à deriva is a beautiful, evocative expression. It literally describes a vessel lost at sea. In conversation, it means someone lacks direction. You use it when life feels chaotic. Or when you have no clear plan. It is about lacking a 'rudder' to steer your life.
How To Use It
You use it like any regular verb phrase. Pair it with a person or a situation. You can say eu ando à deriva (I am drifting). It works for careers, relationships, or even a Saturday afternoon. It implies a lack of control. You are letting the current take you.
When To Use It
Use it when talking about a friend who quit their job. Use it when you feel overwhelmed by choices. It fits perfectly in deep late-night conversations. It is great for describing a project that lost its way. Use it when you feel like a leaf in the wind. It sounds poetic but very relatable.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for literal physical directions. If you are lost in a mall, use estou perdido. Do not use it for someone who is just relaxed. Andar à deriva implies a bit of existential worry. Avoid it in high-stakes professional crises unless you are being dramatic. It might sound too passive for a CEO.
Cultural Background
Portugal has a massive maritime history. Our language is soaked in sea metaphors. To the Portuguese, the sea represents both opportunity and danger. Being 'at the drift' was a sailor's nightmare. Today, we use that ancient fear to describe modern burnout. It connects our naval past to our digital present.
Common Variations
You might hear estar à deriva instead of andar. Andar implies a continuous, ongoing state of being. Estar feels more like a temporary moment. Some people also say ir à deriva. This sounds like the process of starting to lose your way. All of them paint the same watery picture.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is very versatile across all levels of formality. The main 'gotcha' is ensuring you use the feminine 'à' with the accent, as 'deriva' is a feminine noun.
Verb Choice Matters
Use 'andar' if you want to emphasize that this has been happening for a while. Use 'estar' for a sudden realization of being lost.
Don't confuse with 'derivar'
The verb 'derivar' often means 'to derive from' in a logical sense. Stick to the full phrase 'à deriva' for the 'drifting' meaning.
The Sea is Everywhere
Portuguese has dozens of sea idioms. If you feel lost, you are 'à deriva'. If you are lucky, you have 'vento em popa' (wind in your sails)!
Exemples
6Desde que ele saiu da empresa, anda um pouco à deriva.
Since he left the company, he's been drifting a bit.
Shows a lack of professional direction.
Sinto que a minha vida está a andar à deriva ultimamente.
I feel like my life is drifting lately.
Expresses a personal existential feeling.
Sem um líder, este projeto anda à deriva.
Without a leader, this project is drifting aimlessly.
Used in a professional context for lack of management.
Não tenho planos para hoje, vou só andar à deriva pela cidade.
I have no plans for today, I'm just going to wander aimlessly through the city.
A more literal, casual use of wandering.
A conversa foi tão má que passámos o jantar à deriva.
The conversation was so bad that we spent the dinner drifting.
Implies the conversation had no point or focus.
Muitos jovens sentem-se à deriva na economia atual.
Many young people feel adrift in the current economy.
Used for a broader societal observation.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct verb to complete the expression about feeling lost.
Depois daquela discussão, eu ___ à deriva sem saber o que fazer.
The idiom specifically uses 'andar' or 'estar' to indicate the state of drifting.
Complete the phrase with the correct prepositional component.
O navio e a minha vida têm algo em comum: ambos estão à ___.
'Deriva' is the specific word for drift in this idiomatic context.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Andar à deriva'
Used with friends about life confusion.
Ando à deriva, pá!
Standard way to describe a lack of direction.
Ele anda à deriva.
Used in literature or serious journalism.
A instituição encontra-se à deriva.
When to use 'À Deriva'
Career Change
Unemployed and unsure.
Post-Breakup
Feeling lost emotionally.
Tourism
Walking a city with no map.
Bad Management
A company with no goals.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot at all! While it has nautical origins, it is almost always used metaphorically for people's lives or projects today.
It's usually slightly negative or melancholic, as it implies a lack of control. However, it can be neutral if you're just 'wandering' a city.
Yes, if a project lacks a clear strategy, you can say O projeto está à deriva to sound sophisticated but concerned.
Andar à deriva suggests a habit or a period of time, whereas estar à deriva focuses on the current moment.
No, it is a standard idiom. You will find it in newspapers, books, and everyday conversation.
Use estou perdido. Andar à deriva is too poetic for just not finding the bathroom!
No, it doesn't mean crazy. It means aimless. For 'crazy', you would use something like passado da cabeça.
Yes, you can say someone is no bom caminho (on the good path) or has rumo (direction).
Yes, always use à (a + a). It is a fixed expression: à deriva.
Yes, it is widely understood and used in both Portugal and Brazil with the same meaning.
Expressions liées
Sem rumo
Vento em popa
Perder o norte
Ficar em águas de bacalhau
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