Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
[ter as] mãos a abanar
English translation:
to come empty-handed
Added to glossary by
Carla Lopes
Nov 6, 2009 11:00
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Portuguese term
[ter as] mãos a abanar
Portuguese to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Obrigado.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +8 | to come empty-handed |
Carla Lopes
|
| 4 | to be unsuccessful |
Marisa Colb(BR)
|
| 3 +1 | doing nothing (with one's hands) |
Antonio Tomás Lessa do Amaral
|
Change log
Nov 8, 2009 18:41: Carla Lopes Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+8
1 min
Carla Lopes
Portugal
Portugal
Native in Portuguese
Portugal
Translating is my life
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: European/Portugal) 
Works in: Spanish to Portuguese, English to Portuguese, French to Portuguese, and 6 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Selected
to come empty-handed
Michaelis Moderno Dicionário Português-Inglês (Portuguese-English)
a.ba.nar
[aban'ar] vt+vpr 1 to cool by fanning, fan. 2 to agitate, excite. 3 to shake, jolt, toss. 4 to dissuade. 5 to tremble. 6 to winnow. 7 abanar-se to cool oneself with a fan. 8 to air. abanar a cabeça to shake the head. abanar as árvores to shake the trees. abanar as moscas to drive the flies away. abanar o lume to fan the fire. as árvores abanavam ao sabor do vento the trees bowed in the wind. vir com as mãos abanando to come empty-handed.
a.ba.nar
[aban'ar] vt+vpr 1 to cool by fanning, fan. 2 to agitate, excite. 3 to shake, jolt, toss. 4 to dissuade. 5 to tremble. 6 to winnow. 7 abanar-se to cool oneself with a fan. 8 to air. abanar a cabeça to shake the head. abanar as árvores to shake the trees. abanar as moscas to drive the flies away. abanar o lume to fan the fire. as árvores abanavam ao sabor do vento the trees bowed in the wind. vir com as mãos abanando to come empty-handed.
Note from asker:
| Thanks Carla! :) |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Evans (X)
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thanks!
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suesimons
: Precisely!
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thanks!
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Olivia Pimen (X)
: I agree
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thanks!
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Marlene Curtis
2 hrs
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obrigada!
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Adriana Z. (X)
3 hrs
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obrigada!
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Isabel Maria Almeida
3 hrs
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obrigada!
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Georgia Kostick Almeida
13 hrs
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obrigada!
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Muriel Vasconcellos
19 hrs
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obrigada!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Yes-in this context it seemed to mean that someone came away empty handed/with nothing to show [for his experience]. Thank-you!"
2 hrs
to be unsuccessful
Outra opção:
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lista_de_expressões_idiomáticas
http://wapedia.mobi/pt/Anexo:Lista_de_expressões_idiomáticas
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lista_de_expressões_idiomáticas
http://wapedia.mobi/pt/Anexo:Lista_de_expressões_idiomáticas
+1
2 hrs
Antonio Tomás Lessa do Amaral
Native in Portuguese
Portuguese translations
Native in: Portuguese (Variants: Brazilian, Mozambican, Angolan, South African, European/Portugal, Cape Verdean) 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Italian to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, and 4 more.
doing nothing (with one's hands)
outra opção
Discussion
Com empty handed or doing nothing/have idle hands