3. TIRAR O CAVALINHO DA CHUVA

The rain season started over here, few months of relief from the excruciating heat, and the weather outside is perfectly lovely: a bit of grey, a bit of water, a bit of softly sun rays, and just warm enough to keep me happy.

So I decided to bring an expression that has everything and nothing to do with the rain: “Tirar o cavalinho da chuva”, which means, in literal translation: To remove the little horse from the rain. Didn’t ring a bell? The actual meaning, that has nothing to do with rain, or horses, is “You can give up on that idea, buddy!”

It’s a very disillusioning expression, used when someone went deep down in they delusional assumptions, and we decide to bring them back to reality, assuring that whatever they thought it would happen, have no chances of actually happening. No way, Josay!

I’ve been told by the internets that it could be associated with the expression in English “Don’t hold your breath”, but I think that’s more like “don’t count on this”, while “tirar o cavalinho da chuva” has a splash of acidity more to it, it’s a piquant way of saying “don’t even think about this”.

It’s more about giving up than not expecting something from someone.

Legend has it that in the 19th century, horses were the general mean of transportation, and when visiting someone’s house, one should park their horse in front of the house (for short visits) or in the stables (for long visits). And because it was considered rude to park in the stables without the host’s authorization, one would always park in the front of the house first, and if the host wanted them to give up on the idea of leaving so soon, they’d say: you may remove your horse from the rain.

The expression later took on a broader meaning, as well as putting the horse in the diminutive – little horse – and adding a pinch de irony.

It’s an old expression that it’s still largely used, and although I love it and use it quite often to bring delusional friends and loved ones to reality with a bit of wit, I must confess is a breaking-up-hope kind of expression.

So if you think our journey is anywhere close to the end, you may remove your little horse from the rain, cause I’ll be back tomorrow… Hope you are too.

Till tomorrow,

expressionada