levar a água a bom porto

English translation: to get things to go his way

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:levar a água a bom porto
English translation:to get things to go his way
Entered by: Amy Duncan (X)

19:54 Dec 26, 2008
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Portuguese term or phrase: levar a água a bom porto
Com uma lábia do tamanho do mundo, XXX é um refinado vigarista, que se serve do nome e estatuto da irmã para conseguir o que pretende, ainda que cometa frequentemente inúmeras gaffes. É o típico bom malandro, que se faz passar por herdeiro daquele império para **levar a água a bom porto.**

Can a friend in Portugal (or elsewhere) help with this expression? Thanks!
Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 13:42
to get things to go his way
Explanation:
o tom é mais coloquial, mais aproximado ao original, acho eu...
Selected response from:

José Henrique Moreira
Portugal
Local time: 16:42
Grading comment
Obrigada, José Henrique...é isso mesmo. Obrigada todo mundo pelas sugestões!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1bring to a successful conclusion
Maria José Tavares (X)
5to get things to go his way
José Henrique Moreira
3 +1achieve his goals
priscilalaterza


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
bring to a successful conclusion


Explanation:
o sentido é o mesmo de:
levar a bom termo: to bring to a successful conclusion

Maria José Tavares (X)
Portugal
Local time: 16:42
Native speaker of: Portuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marlene Curtis
9 mins
  -> Obrigada Marlene
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
achieve his goals


Explanation:
Me parece que a idéia é essa.

priscilalaterza
Brazil
Local time: 13:42
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  rhandler
5 hrs
  -> Thanks.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
to get things to go his way


Explanation:
o tom é mais coloquial, mais aproximado ao original, acho eu...

José Henrique Moreira
Portugal
Local time: 16:42
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Obrigada, José Henrique...é isso mesmo. Obrigada todo mundo pelas sugestões!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search