Phrase · 🧩 Idioms for attitudes and reactions
No podemos quedarnos de brazos cruzados mientras talan el bosque.
We can't just sit back and do nothing while they cut down the forest.
C1calling for actionlearned as a wholeAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Noadverbnot, nopodemosverbwe canpoder · present · 1st pl.quedarnos2verb(quedarse) to stay, to remainquedar · infinitivedeprepositionof, frombrazos1nounarmsbrazo · masc. · pl.cruzadosverbcrossedcruzar · participle · masc. · pl.mientrasconjunctionwhiletalanverbthey cut down (trees)talar · present · 3rd pl.eldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definitebosquenounforest, woodsmasc. · sing..
- podemos → quedarnos: poder + infinitive
- cruzados → brazos: m. pl.
Word for word: “We can't stay with our arms crossed while they cut down the forest.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1quedarse de brazos cruzados = to sit idly by, the same image as in Portuguese.
- 2The pronoun attaches to the infinitive and matches the subject: podemos quedarnos.