santo de casa não faz milagre
Familiarity breeds contempt
Wörtlich: Home-grown saint does not perform miracles
Use this when your family or friends ignore your expert advice but listen to a stranger's opinion.
In 15 Sekunden
- Local experts are often ignored by their own friends and family.
- People value advice more when it comes from a stranger.
- Used to express frustration when your talents go unrecognized at home.
Bedeutung
This phrase describes the frustration when people close to you—like family or friends—don't value your talents or advice, yet they listen to a complete stranger saying the exact same thing.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Giving tech advice to your father
Eu te avisei que o computador ia travar, mas santo de casa não faz milagre.
I warned you the computer would crash, but familiarity breeds contempt.
A company hiring an outside consultant for something the staff already suggested
Contrataram um consultor para dizer o que já sabíamos. Santo de casa não faz milagre.
They hired a consultant to tell us what we already knew. No one is a prophet in their own land.
Texting a friend whose sister ignored her fashion advice
Ela não te ouviu? Pois é, santo de casa não faz milagre!
She didn't listen to you? Well, a prophet has no honor in his own country!
Kultureller Hintergrund
Rooted in the Catholic tradition of patron saints, this expression reflects the irony that people often seek divine help from distant shrines rather than their local parish. It captures a universal human bias where we tend to undervalue the expertise of those we see every day in favor of 'outside' authorities.
The 'Trailing Off' Trick
In Brazil, you don't always have to finish the sentence. Just saying 'Santo de casa...' with a shrug is enough for people to understand you're feeling undervalued.
Don't sound arrogant
Use this to highlight the irony of the situation, not to brag about how great you are. It's about the lack of recognition, not a self-proclamation of being a 'saint'.
In 15 Sekunden
- Local experts are often ignored by their own friends and family.
- People value advice more when it comes from a stranger.
- Used to express frustration when your talents go unrecognized at home.
What It Means
Imagine you are a professional chef. You suggest a recipe to your mom. She ignores you. Then, she sees a random YouTuber suggest it and calls it 'genius.' That is exactly what this phrase captures. It is about the lack of recognition from those who know you best. In their eyes, you are just 'you,' not an expert. Your 'miracles' or talents are invisible to them because of proximity.
How To Use It
You use it as a standalone observation or a sigh of resignation. It usually follows a moment of ignored advice or overlooked skill. You can say it when a sibling ignores your tech help. You can use it when a boss hires an outside consultant. It works best when the irony of the situation is clear to everyone.
When To Use It
Use it when you feel underappreciated by your inner circle. It is perfect for family dinners where your degree is ignored. Use it in the office when a new guy gets credit for your old idea. It is great for texting a friend who is venting about their parents. It adds a touch of 'I told you so' without being too aggressive.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this with people you barely know. It requires a level of intimacy or shared history to make sense. Avoid using it if someone actually did a great job for you. It is a complaint about others, not a way to praise yourself. Also, keep it away from very solemn religious ceremonies. Even though it mentions 'saints,' it is a secular social commentary.
Cultural Background
Brazil and Portugal are historically Catholic cultures. Every town has its own patron saint. People often traveled to distant shrines to pray for big miracles. They felt the local saint was 'too familiar' to be powerful. This religious habit turned into a social metaphor. It reflects a deep-seated human tendency to value the exotic over the familiar.
Common Variations
You might hear people simply say santo de casa... and trail off. Everyone knows the rest of the sentence. Some might say casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau (blacksmith's house, wooden skewer). That is similar but focuses more on neglecting your own needs. Stick to the 'saint' version for issues regarding recognition and authority.
Nutzungshinweise
This idiom is widely understood and sits comfortably in the 'neutral' register. It is safe for both casual chats and professional environments when discussing internal vs. external recognition.
The 'Trailing Off' Trick
In Brazil, you don't always have to finish the sentence. Just saying 'Santo de casa...' with a shrug is enough for people to understand you're feeling undervalued.
Don't sound arrogant
Use this to highlight the irony of the situation, not to brag about how great you are. It's about the lack of recognition, not a self-proclamation of being a 'saint'.
The Biblical Connection
This is the Portuguese equivalent of 'No prophet is accepted in his hometown' (Luke 4:24). Knowing this helps you explain it to English speakers!
Beispiele
6Eu te avisei que o computador ia travar, mas santo de casa não faz milagre.
I warned you the computer would crash, but familiarity breeds contempt.
The speaker is pointing out that their father ignored their valid warning.
Contrataram um consultor para dizer o que já sabíamos. Santo de casa não faz milagre.
They hired a consultant to tell us what we already knew. No one is a prophet in their own land.
Used to vent about corporate irony and lack of trust in employees.
Ela não te ouviu? Pois é, santo de casa não faz milagre!
She didn't listen to you? Well, a prophet has no honor in his own country!
A supportive way to acknowledge a friend's frustration.
Sou médica, mas meu marido só ouve o vizinho. Santo de casa não faz milagre.
I'm a doctor, but my husband only listens to the neighbor. Familiarity breeds contempt.
A humorous take on professional expertise being ignored at home.
Ele só fez sucesso na Europa; infelizmente, santo de casa não faz milagre.
He only became successful in Europe; unfortunately, no one is a prophet in their own land.
Expressing a sad truth about local recognition.
Fiz um banquete e eles pediram ketchup. Santo de casa não faz milagre mesmo.
I made a feast and they asked for ketchup. Truly, familiarity breeds contempt.
A lighthearted complaint about family not appreciating high-end skills.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence about a brother ignoring his sister's expert advice.
Eu sou mecânica, mas meu irmão levou o carro em outra oficina. ___, né?
The context involves a family member ignoring a relative's professional expertise, which is the perfect use for this idiom.
Complete the common shortened version of the idiom.
Tentei ajudar, mas ele não quis. Como dizem, santo de casa ___.
The standard idiom uses 'não faz milagre' (doesn't perform miracles).
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality Scale
Used with close friends and siblings.
Pois é, santo de casa...
Perfect for workplace venting or general conversation.
Santo de casa não faz milagre.
Acceptable in speeches or articles to illustrate a point.
Como diz o ditado, santo de casa não faz milagre.
Where to use 'Santo de Casa'
Family Dinner
Mom ignores your cooking tips.
The Office
Boss hires an expensive consultant for your idea.
Friendship
Best friend ignores your dating advice.
Local Talent
A local band only gets famous in another city.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenWhile it uses the word santo (saint), it is used in completely secular, everyday contexts. You don't need to be religious to use it or understand it.
Yes, it's very common in offices when internal suggestions are ignored until an outside 'expert' says the same thing. It’s a neutral way to vent frustration.
Mostly, yes. While the English phrase focuses on losing respect, the Portuguese one focuses specifically on the loss of perceived authority or 'miraculous' skill.
It depends on your tone! If said with a smile and a shrug, it's a playful way to point out she's ignoring your advice. If said angrily, it might be seen as a bit 'sour'.
The most common mistake is using it to describe someone who is lazy. It's not about laziness; it's about being talented but ignored by those close to you.
The phrase is universal across Brazil and Portugal. You might hear different accents, but the wording santo de casa não faz milagre stays the same.
Absolutely. If a local brand is ignored by locals but loved by tourists, you can say santo de casa não faz milagre to describe the situation.
It's better to introduce it with 'Como diz o ditado...' (As the saying goes...). This makes it sound like a cultural observation rather than just a complaint.
The 'miracle' represents the expert result or great advice you provide. To your family, it's just 'normal' because they see you every day, so it loses its 'miraculous' quality.
Usually, the person being ignored says it. If you realize you ignored someone close to you, you could say: 'Pois é, eu esqueci que santo de casa não faz milagre'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau
The shoemaker's children go barefoot.
Ninguém é profeta em sua própria terra
No one is a prophet in their own land.
Dar murro em ponta de faca
To flog a dead horse / To keep trying something useless.
Falar para as paredes
To talk to the walls.
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