bater as botas
To kick the bucket
शाब्दिक अर्थ: to hit the boots
Use it only in casual settings to talk about death without being overly somber.
15 सेकंड में
- Informal way to say someone died.
- Equivalent to 'kicked the bucket'.
- Best for casual stories or movies.
मतलब
This is a casual, slightly humorous way to say someone has died. It is the direct equivalent of saying someone 'kicked the bucket' in English.
मुख्य उदाहरण
3 / 6Talking about a character in a TV show
Você viu que o vilão finalmente bateu as botas no último episódio?
Did you see that the villain finally kicked the bucket in the last episode?
Discussing a very old celebrity
Aquele ator centenário bateu as botas ontem à noite.
That centenarian actor kicked the bucket last night.
A formal news report (Incorrect usage example)
O presidente da empresa faleceu esta manhã.
The company president passed away this morning.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
The phrase likely originates from military or rural traditions where boots were a symbol of a person's working life. In Brazil, death is often handled with a mix of deep respect and dark humor, which explains why such a blunt idiom is so popular in daily conversation. It reflects the Brazilian tendency to use colorful metaphors for life's most serious events.
Read the Room
Using this at a funeral is a massive social 'gaffe'. It sounds like you don't care about the person who died.
The 'Pé Junto' Variation
If you want to sound even more like a local, try 'ir para a cidade do pé junto'. It's a funny way to describe the position of a body in a casket.
15 सेकंड में
- Informal way to say someone died.
- Equivalent to 'kicked the bucket'.
- Best for casual stories or movies.
What It Means
Bater as botas is a very common Brazilian idiom for dying. It sounds lighthearted and informal. You use it when the news isn't devastatingly personal. It implies a certain finality. It is exactly like the English 'kick the bucket'.
How To Use It
You conjugate the verb bater like any regular -er verb. Most often, you will use it in the past tense. For example: Ele bateu as botas. You don't need to add extra words. The phrase stands perfectly on its own. It is short, punchy, and very clear.
When To Use It
Use this with your close friends or family. It works well when discussing celebrities or historical figures. You might use it while watching a movie. 'Oh no, the villain finally bateu as botas!' It adds a bit of color to your speech. It feels very natural in a relaxed setting.
When NOT To Use It
Never use this at a funeral. Do not use it with someone grieving. It is way too casual for a hospital setting. Avoid it in professional emails or news reports. It lacks the solemnity required for serious loss. Using it wrongly can make you seem heartless. Stick to faleceu for those heavy moments.
Cultural Background
There are many theories about its origin. One popular story involves old-time soldiers. When a soldier died, his boots were removed and hit together. This signaled he no longer needed them. Others say it refers to the final twitch of feet. Regardless, it has been popular for decades. It is a staple of Brazilian Portuguese slang.
Common Variations
You might hear esticar a canela which means 'stretch the shin'. Another one is ir para a cidade do pé junto. This refers to feet being tied together in a coffin. Bater as botas remains the most famous one. It is the 'gold standard' for informal death references.
इस्तेमाल की जानकारी
Highly informal. Use with caution. It carries a tone of 'dark humor' or 'casual indifference' depending on the context.
Read the Room
Using this at a funeral is a massive social 'gaffe'. It sounds like you don't care about the person who died.
The 'Pé Junto' Variation
If you want to sound even more like a local, try 'ir para a cidade do pé junto'. It's a funny way to describe the position of a body in a casket.
Apply to Objects
You can use this for your phone or car when they die permanently. It makes you sound very fluent and expressive!
उदाहरण
6Você viu que o vilão finalmente bateu as botas no último episódio?
Did you see that the villain finally kicked the bucket in the last episode?
Perfect for fictional deaths where emotions aren't high.
Aquele ator centenário bateu as botas ontem à noite.
That centenarian actor kicked the bucket last night.
Used for news that isn't personally shocking.
O presidente da empresa faleceu esta manhã.
The company president passed away this morning.
Note that the phrase is NOT used here; 'faleceu' is the correct formal choice.
Minha samambaia bateu as botas porque esqueci de regar.
My fern kicked the bucket because I forgot to water it.
Humorous personification of a plant.
Antes de eu bater as botas, quero viajar o mundo todo!
Before I kick the bucket, I want to travel the whole world!
A common way to talk about a bucket list.
Meu fusca velho finalmente bateu as botas no meio da estrada.
My old Beetle finally kicked the bucket in the middle of the road.
Metaphorical use for machines breaking down completely.
खुद को परखो
Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the idiom in the past tense.
O vizinho rabugento ___ as botas semana passada.
Since 'o vizinho' is singular, you use the third-person singular past tense 'bateu'.
Which word completes the idiom?
Não quero ___ as botas sem antes conhecer Paris.
The idiom is specifically 'bater as botas' (hit the boots).
🎉 स्कोर: /2
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
Ways to talk about death in Portuguese
Slang/Idioms
Bater as botas
Standard daily use
Morrer
Respectful/Professional
Falecer
Poetic/Religious
Partir para melhor
When is it okay to use 'Bater as botas'?
Movies/Fiction
The villain died.
Old Machines
The fridge broke.
Bucket List
Before I die...
Gossip
Did you hear about him?
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालIt's not a swear word, but it is irreverent. It's only offensive if used in a serious or grieving context where respect is expected.
Yes, it’s very common to use it for pets or even pests, like saying A barata bateu as botas (The cockroach kicked the bucket).
The verb falecer is the standard formal choice. You'll see it in newspapers and hear it at memorials.
Yes, it is always as botas (the boots). You never say 'bater a bota' in the singular.
Only if you are joking about an inanimate object, like a project that failed. Never use it regarding a person in a professional setting.
Yes, it is widely understood and used in Portugal, though Brazilians use it perhaps more frequently in daily slang.
Apologize immediately and switch to Sinto muito (I'm very sorry) or Meus pêsames (My condolences).
Not related to death, but dar o bote means to strike or pounce, which sounds similar but is totally different!
Both! It’s a classic idiom that hasn't gone out of style, though younger people might use more modern slang like de arrasta pra cima.
Using the diminutive botinhas would sound very strange and is not a standard variation of the idiom.
संबंधित मुहावरे
esticar a canela
ir para o beleléu
partir desta para uma melhor
entregar a alma a Deus
ir para a cidade do pé junto
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