fazer sujeira
To mess up
Literally: To make dirt / To do dirtiness
Use this phrase when someone acts unfairly or ruins a situation through bad choices or mistakes.
In 15 Seconds
- Used when someone messes up a situation or acts unfairly.
- Literally means 'to make dirt,' implying a social or moral mess.
- Perfect for casual venting or admitting a personal blunder.
Meaning
It means you've messed something up, acted unfairly, or handled a situation poorly. It's like saying you 'made a mess' of a situation or 'played dirty' with someone.
Key Examples
3 of 6Admitting a mistake to a partner
Desculpa, eu fiz sujeira esquecendo nosso jantar.
Sorry, I messed up by forgetting our dinner.
Venting about a dishonest coworker
Ele fez sujeira e contou meu segredo para o chefe.
He played dirty and told my secret to the boss.
A boss talking about a failed project in a relaxed meeting
A gente fez sujeira no planejamento deste mês.
We messed up the planning for this month.
Cultural Background
In Brazil, personal reputation and 'limpeza' (cleanliness) of character are highly valued. This idiom reflects the social stigma of acting unfairly or creating chaos in a community. It has been popular for decades as a way to describe everything from minor social gaffes to political scandals.
The 'Dirty' Nuance
Remember that this phrase can mean 'to mess up' (accident) OR 'to act dirty' (on purpose). Context tells you which one it is!
Literal vs. Idiomatic
If you are actually dropping crumbs on the floor, use 'sujar o chão'. Using 'fazer sujeira' in that context sounds like you're being dramatic about a moral failing.
In 15 Seconds
- Used when someone messes up a situation or acts unfairly.
- Literally means 'to make dirt,' implying a social or moral mess.
- Perfect for casual venting or admitting a personal blunder.
What It Means
Think of fazer sujeira as the social version of spilling juice on a white rug. You didn't just make a mistake; you created a mess that's hard to clean up. It often implies doing something wrong, acting unethically, or failing at a task in a way that affects others. It is about the 'stain' left by a bad action.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb phrase. If you forget your best friend's birthday, you might say you 'made dirt.' If a coworker takes credit for your idea, they are 'making dirt.' It is very flexible. You can use it for small blunders or bigger moral failings. Just remember it usually focuses on the negative impact of the action.
When To Use It
- Use it when you admit a mistake to a friend.
- Use it when someone is being dishonest or sneaky.
- Use it when a plan goes completely wrong because of a bad choice.
- It works great in casual conversations or when venting about a situation.
- Texting a friend after you accidentally sent a risky text to the wrong group.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in high-level corporate reports or legal documents. It is too colorful for a court of law. Don't use it if you are literally talking about cleaning your house. For actual dust, just use sujar. If you use fazer sujeira in a vacuum cleaner ad, people might think you are talking about corruption!
Cultural Background
Brazilians value social harmony and 'jeitinho' (the little way). Fazer sujeira is the opposite of that harmony. It suggests a lack of transparency or care. Historically, it links back to the idea that a person's reputation should be 'clean.' To 'do dirt' is to tarnish that social standing. It’s a very common way to call out bad behavior without being overly clinical.
Common Variations
You might hear fazer uma sujeira (adding 'a' for a specific mess). Some people use pisar na bola (step on the ball) for a similar meaning of messing up. If the situation is really bad, they might say fazer uma porcaria. But fazer sujeira remains the classic way to describe 'dirty' or messy behavior.
Usage Notes
This is an informal expression. It sits perfectly in casual conversations among friends or family. In professional settings, use it only if you have a very close relationship with your colleagues.
The 'Dirty' Nuance
Remember that this phrase can mean 'to mess up' (accident) OR 'to act dirty' (on purpose). Context tells you which one it is!
Literal vs. Idiomatic
If you are actually dropping crumbs on the floor, use 'sujar o chão'. Using 'fazer sujeira' in that context sounds like you're being dramatic about a moral failing.
The Political Connection
In Brazil, you'll often see this in news headlines regarding 'jogo sujo' (dirty game) in politics. It's a very common way to describe corruption.
Examples
6Desculpa, eu fiz sujeira esquecendo nosso jantar.
Sorry, I messed up by forgetting our dinner.
Shows personal accountability for a social slip-up.
Ele fez sujeira e contou meu segredo para o chefe.
He played dirty and told my secret to the boss.
Implies a betrayal of trust or unethical behavior.
A gente fez sujeira no planejamento deste mês.
We messed up the planning for this month.
Acknowledges a collective failure in a blunt way.
Fiz sujeira e derrubei bebida em todo mundo!
I made a mess and spilled drinks on everyone!
Can be used for literal mess that causes social awkwardness.
Não faça sujeira com seus amigos.
Don't do your friends dirty.
A warning against acting with bad intentions.
O juiz fez sujeira naquele lance.
The referee messed up (or acted unfairly) in that play.
Common in sports to describe bad or biased officiating.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence about a mistake you made yesterday.
Ontem eu ___ sujeira e perdi o prazo do trabalho.
'Fiz' is the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) of 'fazer', matching the context of 'Ontem' (Yesterday).
Which word completes the idiom meaning 'to mess up'?
Ele sempre faz ___ quando tenta ajudar.
While 'bagunça' means mess, 'fazer sujeira' is the specific idiom for messing up or acting wrongly.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Level of 'Fazer Sujeira'
Slang among close friends.
Mano, que sujeira!
Standard casual conversation.
Eu fiz sujeira no trabalho.
Safe for most daily interactions.
Não vamos fazer sujeira com o cliente.
When to use 'Fazer Sujeira'
Betraying trust
Telling a secret.
Work blunders
Missing a big deadline.
Social gaffes
Forgetting an anniversary.
Unfair play
Cheating in a game.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYou can, but it sounds like you're saying you ruined the whole morning. For just the liquid, say eu sujei a mesa.
Not inherently, but calling someone out with você fez sujeira is a direct accusation of acting wrongly.
Pisar na bola is more about letting someone down, while fazer sujeira often implies a 'messier' or more unethical mistake.
Better not. Use more professional terms like cometer um erro (make a mistake) or falhar (to fail).
You can say Eu fiz uma sujeira enorme to add emphasis to the scale of the mistake.
Yes, though they might use fazer asneira more frequently for general mistakes.
Yes, it always carries a negative connotation of error, mess, or unfairness.
Yes! If a child hides their vegetables under the table, you could say they are fazendo sujeira.
Yes, uma sujeira can refer to the act itself. For example: Isso que ele fez foi uma sujeira (What he did was a dirty move).
It follows the regular conjugation of the verb fazer. For example: eu faço, você faz, nós fazemos.
Related Phrases
Pisar na bola
To let someone down / To make a mistake
Jogo sujo
Dirty play / Unfair tactics
Dar mancada
To mess up socially / To slip up
Fazer besteira
To do something stupid / To mess up
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free