16. BATER AS BOTAS

I remember when I was at school and I learned about euphemism, that word or expression used in place of another word of expression because the last one could sound harsh or unpleasant. Like when you say you have to tinkle instead of saying you have to pee. I always loved euphemisms, and that’s probably why I love Brazilian expressions so much, they’re all about encapsulating meanings, either to simplify or just to amuse or soften a crude statement.

And, boy, do we Brazilian love euphemisms?! Not used, semi-new. Not ugly, unprovided of beauty. Not a lie, a half-truth.

But my favourite one is, no doubt, the euphemism for “one has died”. I don’t know if it’s because no one likes to deliver this kind of news, but there’s a gazillion ways to say it without actually saying that someone has died. And one of those ways is “bater as botas”. “To kick the boots”.

Now, someone told me, back at our “kick the bucket” post, that one of the euphemisms for death in English is actually to kick the bucket. How funny is that we have the same expression encapsulating two whole different concepts?

Rumour has it that “bater as botas” came from the Dutch invasion to Brazil, when people who had never fought in their life and usually walked around barefoot (mainly black slaves) were dressed and – poorly – equipped to fight, and due to lack of practice, they would trip in their own boots and become vulnerable to the attack. Another version states that the expression came from soldiers of the Paraguay War, who would beat their boots when shaking to the ground after being hit. A bit morbid, I know, but the subject is death, right? Not so off, then.

Other expressions to say someone died include:

• “Foi para a terra dos pés juntos”: Went to the land of the feet together (Seriously, don’t know what happened here);

• “Passou dessa para a melhor”: Passed from this to a better one;

• “Esticou as canelas”: Stretched the shins (???);

• “Abotoou o paletó de madeira”: Buttoned up the wooden coat;

• “Comeu capim pela raiz”: Ate grass from the root.

I gotta admit that not all of them are subtle, but how can you not love such creativity?

In any case, dear foreign, you rest assure that this blog has not, nor will, kick its boots. We’re alive and running!

Till tomorrow,

expressionada