Phrase · 🧩 Everyday idioms
Chega de conversa, vamos botar a mão na massa!
Enough talk, let’s get down to work!
B1getting people to start workinginformallearned as a wholeAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Chega1verbenoughchegar · present · 3rd sing.deprepositionofconversanountalkfem. · sing.,vamosverblet’sir · present · 1st pl.botar2verbputinfinitiveadeterminertheo · fem. · sing. · definitemão2nounhandfem. · sing.naprepositionin theem · fem. · sing. · definitemassa2noundoughfem. · sing.!
- Chega → conversa: governs
- vamos → botar: periphrasis
- botar → massa: fixed phrase
Word for word: “Enough of talk, (let’s) go put the hand in-the dough!”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Chega de + noun or infinitive = enough of…: chega de desculpas.
- 2botar a mão na massa = to get stuck in, start the real work. Botar = pôr in speech.
Variations
- Bora botar a mão na massa!
- Vamos pôr a mão na massa.
- Mãos à obra!