Juntou a fome com a vontade de comer

English translation: a perfect match/ a good fit

20:19 Oct 4, 2013

Portuguese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Idioms

Portuguese term or phrase: Juntou a fome com a vontade de comer

Idioms are notoriously difficult to translate. I was asked how I would express this PT-BR idiom in English and I got nothing. The meaning is that "this is something that brought together two different things in a perfect combination".
Thanks

Silvio Picinini KudoZ activity Questions: 67 (none open) Answers: 1817 United States
Local time: 09:41

English translation:a perfect match/ a good fit

Explanation:
a match made in heaven

Selected response from:

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 10:41

Grading comment

Thanks everyone. Although some answers "explain" the meaning, I was trying to find a real idiom that would express the same idea. The "two birds" idea means "one thing that is good for two different one" while this expression means "two different things that are good for one". Very interesting discussion guys! Thanks again
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +1

to kill two birds with one stone

Paulinho Fonseca

3 +2

a perfect match/ a good fit

Verginia Ophof

Hunger is the best sauce

Donna Sandin

things come together perfectly

Nick Taylor

Discussion entries: 8

Verginia Ophof

Belize

a good fit/perfect match

22:15 Oct 4, 2013

good fit is used more in the business world

Silvio Picinini

United States

ASKER

I think that Verginia got it

21:50 Oct 4, 2013

It is her explanation, not her suggestion, that is the best translation. "A match made in heaven" has the exact same meaning of two things coming together. What threw me off at first was that the meaning for that, in some dictionaries, is usually about "two people". But then I found this explanation:

A very successful combination of two people or things.

If it can be things, than it is perfect.
Let me know what you guys think.

Paulinho Fonseca

Brazil

21:09 Oct 4, 2013

Don't get me wrong. Sorry if my words sounded rough. Ideas and suggestions here are more than welcome. Just wanted to help...
:-)

gninolps (X)

Brazil

I did

21:04 Oct 4, 2013

That's what I explained and why I disagree. Or do you mean the original phrase that Silvio has to translate? Because I can't see it anywhere. Do you have a different interpretation to those idioms in PT? I'd like to know more about it.
And I'm sorry I'm being too honest, but just telling me to "think about it" after I'd spent my time building up a constructive argument to ultimately help a colleague is just rude. Don't be defensive and don't take it personally, because it isn't.

Paulinho Fonseca

Brazil

20:57 Oct 4, 2013

As you said before, it is not possible to be exact. We are adapting and this is perfectly suitable, as it explains the situation.
Reflita sobre o original em PT.

gninolps (X)

Brazil

I have to disagree...

20:44 Oct 4, 2013

with "to kill two birds with one stone". This is better related to "matar dois coelhos como uma só cajadada", which means you took care of two things with a single action. "Juntar a fome com a vontade de comer" is more used when you have two different factors leading to the same outcome (since both alone could make you eat, you didn't need both).

Paulinho Fonseca

Brazil

20:38 Oct 4, 2013

I agree with Gabriel. Besides, there are other expressions:
'hunger is the best sauce'.

:-)

gninolps (X)

Brazil

the meaning is right

20:28 Oct 4, 2013

But I wouldn't suggest a translation unless based on the context. You won't necessarily find a perfect solution that works in every case, so maybe the phrase in which the idiom appears could help us help you out with ideas.

Answers

17 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

to kill two birds with one stone

Explanation:
See link

Reference: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/portuguese_to_english/linguistics/...

Paulinho Fonseca
Brazil
Local time: 13:41
Native speaker of:

Portuguese

53 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

a perfect match/ a good fit

Explanation:
a match made in heaven

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 10:41
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 65

Grading comment

15 hrs confidence:

things come together perfectly

Explanation:
things come together perfectly

Nick Taylor
Local time: 17:41
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 119

3 days 4 mins confidence:

Hunger is the best sauce

Explanation:
I think this is the equivalent "idiom" or "saying" in English - I had to think about it for awhile before it popped into my head

Donna Sandin
United States
Local time: 12:41
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 19

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