26. CAGANDO E ANDANDO

Remember the “either shit or vacate the bush” of day 11? This one is another of the poop-related expressions that having nothing dirty about them, except for the literal meaning. And since we know the literal meaning is almost never the actual meaning, let’s find out what “cagando e andando” is really trying to say.

The literal translation would be “shitting and walking”, but it’s used to say that someone doesn’t care, doesn’t give a flying fuck about something.

I couldn’t find a reliable source about the origin of this expression, it seems that everyone has their own theory, and apart from a very disturbing story about kids swimming in a pond, a police officer, a boy shitting himself and another boy drowning, almost every version agree on the expression coming from an animal that poops while walks. Now, some say it’s the horse, some say it’s the chicken, some say the duck, but I always thought – and the majority on the internets are with me – it was the cow. Again. Cows and the not really worried attitude about leaving a trace of mess behind them.

The other day I was in the field where Mr. Fiancé is making some studies about cattle, and there was one cow doing her business on its friend. Literally. So I can’t defend them much here, they both seem to not give a shit about it.

So, you see, the shit has something to do with it, since the expressions in both Portuguese and English, even if being different, brought the same bowel-movement activity.

And if you really think about it, it’s good to do that sometimes, you know, stop worrying so much, decide to not care so much. Maybe the cows do have something to teach us.

But I will tell you something I care about, dear foreign, it’s you and this project. And I hope you’re enjoying it as much as I am.

Till tomorrow,

expressionada.