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negro, quando não faz besteira na entrada, faz na saída

English translation: when a black man doesn't screw up as he comes in, he will, as he goes out

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:negro, quando não faz besteira na entrada, faz na saída
English translation:when a black man doesn't screw up as he comes in, he will, as he goes out
Entered by: Lumen (X)

01:04 Sep 3, 2007
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Folklore / popular sayings
Portuguese term or phrase: negro, quando não faz besteira na entrada, faz na saída
I need to translate this popular saying about black brazilians which is, or has been, used in Brazil. help please! :) it needs to be translated for a doctoral thesis about racism in brazil. thank you!!
Gomariz
when a black man doesn't screw up as he comes in, he will, as he goes out
Explanation:
Actually, the *street* version of this saying is much more crude. What it means, though is that you should never trust a black man because you will inevitably get screwed.

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-09-03 02:23:15 GMT)
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Blacks have a(n unfair) reputation of doing a shoddy job. There is another saying in Portuguese: When someone does a por job the most common reaction is to say *Fulano fez trabalho de preto/negro*.
Selected response from:

Lumen (X)
Brazil
Local time: 16:57
Grading comment
yes, that's much more elegant than what I came up with. Thanks a bunch! :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +2when a black man doesn't screw up as he comes in, he will, as he goes out
Lumen (X)


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
when a black man doesn't screw up as he comes in, he will, as he goes out


Explanation:
Actually, the *street* version of this saying is much more crude. What it means, though is that you should never trust a black man because you will inevitably get screwed.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-09-03 02:23:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Blacks have a(n unfair) reputation of doing a shoddy job. There is another saying in Portuguese: When someone does a por job the most common reaction is to say *Fulano fez trabalho de preto/negro*.

Lumen (X)
Brazil
Local time: 16:57
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
yes, that's much more elegant than what I came up with. Thanks a bunch! :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michael Powers (PhD): This makes more sense to me. Mike :)
2 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Humberto Ribas
7 hrs
  -> Thanks
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