11. OU CAGA OU DESOCUPA A MOITA

Now, back to my favourites!

This one has a little bit of dirt in its literal translation. Nothing dirt about the actual meaning, though.

“Ou caga ou desocupa a moita”.

The literal thing? “Either shit or vacate the bush”.

So, imagine you’re trying to do your business behind a bush, but there’s more people waiting to do the same, so you have to either finish your business already or give up and get out, so other people can use the bush. Unlikely situation – I hope – but it does make a bit of sense.

The actual meaning? “Quit being indecisive and make a decision! And make it fast!”

This expression can be used anywhere, like when you are with a friend at a drive-thru and they just can’t make their mind on what to get, and both you and the counter person are getting a little impatient, so that’s a great moment for a “ou caga ou desocupa a moita!”.

It could also be used to tell about someone who is stalling, not only ask someone to quit stalling. Like Mr. Fiancé, when he gives me too many options for dinner and I get really indecisive about them, and my whole indecision is delaying us and he’s getting hangry. In that scenario (completely fictitious, maybe) I’d be the one who “nem caga nem desocupa a moita”. “Neither shit nor leave the bush”.

I couldn’t find the origin of this one, apparently is one of the Brazilian proverbs that just appeared one day and no one knows exactly when or how, and it kept being used forever.

I particularly love this expression, it really gets back to the concept of encapsulating a feeling. In this case, the feeling of impatience with indecisive people. (I have a feeling Gemini folks are the champions on hearing this one).

So, dear foreign, as for keep coming here every day to check on new expressions, don’t get paralysed between two choices, shit already! There are bushes for everyone.

Till tomorrow,

expressionada