tirar o cavalinho da chuva
To give up on an idea
直訳: To take the little horse out of the rain
Use it to playfully tell friends or family to stop dreaming about something that won't happen.
15秒でわかる
- Used to tell someone to give up on an unrealistic idea.
- A playful, slightly ironic way to say 'forget about it.'
- Originates from 19th-century horse travel customs in Brazil.
意味
It means you should stop hoping for something to happen because it simply isn't going to. It is the perfect way to tell someone to 'forget about it' or 'don't hold your breath.'
主な例文
3 / 6A friend asking to borrow money for the fifth time
Pode tirar o cavalinho da chuva, eu não vou te emprestar mais nada!
You can forget it, I'm not lending you anything else!
A sibling wanting to use your new shoes
Tira o cavalinho da chuva! Essas botas são novas e eu vou usar hoje.
Don't even think about it! These boots are new and I'm wearing them today.
Discussing a promotion that likely won't happen
Se você acha que o chefe vai te dar um aumento agora, pode tirar o cavalinho da chuva.
If you think the boss will give you a raise now, you can give up on that idea.
文化的背景
This expression originates from the 19th-century custom of guests tethering their horses outside a host's home. If the host invited the guest to move the horse to a sheltered area, it signaled a long, welcome stay; however, the modern ironic twist evolved to mean the opposite: that the 'stay' or the 'expectation' is officially over.
The 'Seu' Factor
Adding 'seu' (your) before 'cavalinho' makes it sound more personal and pointed, like 'take YOUR little horse out of the rain.'
Watch the Tone
Because it's a bit sarcastic, ensure your body language is friendly so you don't sound genuinely mean.
15秒でわかる
- Used to tell someone to give up on an unrealistic idea.
- A playful, slightly ironic way to say 'forget about it.'
- Originates from 19th-century horse travel customs in Brazil.
What It Means
Tirar o cavalinho da chuva is a colorful way to dash someone's hopes. You use it when a plan is unrealistic. It tells the other person to stop waiting for a specific result. Essentially, you are saying 'give up on that idea.' It is direct but carries a touch of irony. It implies that staying 'in the rain' waiting is useless.
How To Use It
You usually use it in the imperative or as a suggestion. You can say Pode tirar o seu cavalinho da chuva. This translates to 'You can take your little horse out of the rain.' It sounds more playful than a blunt 'no.' It works best when someone is being overly optimistic. Use it when a friend thinks they will win the lottery. Or when a sibling asks to borrow your car for a month.
When To Use It
Use it in casual conversations with people you know well. It is great for lighthearted debates or shutting down silly requests. Imagine you are at a restaurant and a friend wants the last slice. You can jokingly tell them to tirar o cavalinho da chuva. It is also common in texting when someone makes a wild suggestion. It adds a bit of Brazilian flair to your refusal. It makes the 'no' feel more like a shared cultural joke.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase in high-stakes professional environments. Do not say it to your boss during a serious meeting. It might come across as dismissive or rude. Also, avoid it during moments of genuine grief or crisis. If someone is truly upset, this idiom is too sarcastic. It is a 'fun' way to say no, not a compassionate one. Keep it for low-stakes social situations and friendly banter.
Cultural Background
This phrase dates back to the 19th century in Brazil. Back then, horses were the primary mode of transportation. When visiting someone, you would leave your horse outside. If the visit was going to be long, you'd move it to a shelter. If the host told you to 'take the horse out of the rain,' it meant you were staying. Over time, the meaning flipped. Now, it means the 'visit' (or the idea) is over. It is one of the most beloved idioms in the Portuguese language.
Common Variations
You will mostly hear it exactly as tirar o cavalinho da chuva. Sometimes people just say pode tirar o cavalinho. The 'little horse' (cavalinho) is the essential part of the imagery. In Portugal, you might hear similar expressions about 'putting away the basket.' However, the horse version is the undisputed king in Brazil. It is a linguistic staple that every native speaker knows by heart.
使い方のコツ
This is a quintessential Brazilian idiom. It sits in the 'informal' category, making it perfect for friends, family, and casual acquaintances, but keep it out of your formal emails.
The 'Seu' Factor
Adding 'seu' (your) before 'cavalinho' makes it sound more personal and pointed, like 'take YOUR little horse out of the rain.'
Watch the Tone
Because it's a bit sarcastic, ensure your body language is friendly so you don't sound genuinely mean.
The Diminutive Power
Brazilians love diminutives. Using 'cavalinho' instead of 'cavalo' makes the rejection feel softer and more idiomatic.
例文
6Pode tirar o cavalinho da chuva, eu não vou te emprestar mais nada!
You can forget it, I'm not lending you anything else!
A firm but idiomatic refusal to a recurring request.
Tira o cavalinho da chuva! Essas botas são novas e eu vou usar hoje.
Don't even think about it! These boots are new and I'm wearing them today.
Used to set a boundary regarding personal items.
Se você acha que o chefe vai te dar um aumento agora, pode tirar o cavalinho da chuva.
If you think the boss will give you a raise now, you can give up on that idea.
Managing expectations about a professional outcome.
Sair nesse temporal? Tira o cavalinho da chuva, eu não saio de casa!
Go out in this storm? Forget it, I'm not leaving the house!
A literal and figurative use combined for comedic effect.
Pode tirar o seu cavalinho da chuva, mocinho. Primeiro o brócolis!
Don't hold your breath, young man. Broccoli first!
A common parental use of the phrase.
Vi os preços das passagens e já tirei meu cavalinho da chuva.
I saw the ticket prices and already gave up on that idea.
Using the phrase in the first person to describe one's own realization.
自分をテスト
Choose the correct verb to complete the idiom.
Se você acha que eu vou cozinhar hoje, pode ___ o cavalinho da chuva!
The verb 'tirar' (to take out) is the only verb used in this specific idiom.
Complete the phrase with the correct animal.
Não adianta insistir, tire o seu ___ da chuva.
The idiom specifically uses 'cavalinho' (little horse) regardless of the situation.
🎉 スコア： /2
ビジュアル学習ツール
Formality Spectrum
Used with best friends and siblings.
Tira o cavalinho da chuva, cara!
Common in daily conversation with peers.
Pode tirar o cavalinho da chuva.
Rarely used; might seem unprofessional.
O senhor pode tirar o cavalinho da chuva.
When to use 'Tirar o Cavalinho da Chuva'
Unreasonable requests
Borrowing money again
Impossible plans
Traveling with no budget
Sibling rivalry
Taking the last cookie
Self-realization
Giving up on a crush
よくある質問
10 問It is generally too informal for a boss unless you have a very close, joking relationship. Stick to Não vai ser possível in professional settings.
It is understood in both, but it is much more common and iconic in Brazilian Portuguese. Portugal has other variations like podes tirar o sentido.
Yes, the idiom almost always uses the diminutive cavalinho. Saying cavalo sounds strange and loses the idiomatic 'flavor'.
Absolutely! You can say Já tirei meu cavalinho da chuva to mean 'I've already given up on that idea.'
It depends on the tone. Usually, it's lighthearted and ironic, but if said harshly, it can be a very blunt way to shut someone down.
The closest equivalents are 'Don't hold your breath,' 'Forget about it,' or 'In your dreams.'
No, it has nothing to do with the actual weather. You can say it on a perfectly sunny day!
It's more of a traditional idiom than modern slang. People of all ages in Brazil use it and understand it.
You usually use the imperative tira or tire, or the infinitive with pode as in pode tirar.
No, if you swap the horse for a dog or cat, the idiom won't make sense to a native speaker.
関連フレーズ
Esquecer o barco
To forget about it / let it go
Sem chance
No chance
Nem que a vaca tussa
Not even if the cow coughs (Never/No way)
Dar com os burros n'água
To fail or have plans go wrong
コメント (0)
ログインしてコメント無料で言語学習を始めよう
無料で始める