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Dar bola

Portuguese

Meaning

To flirt / To show romantic interest

Example

Cara, aquela garota está dando bola pra você, vá falar com ela!

Dude, that girl is totally flirting with you, go talk to her!

Origin

The expression dar bola ("to give the ball") is one of many everyday Brazilian phrases that came out of football. Passing the ball to a teammate means trusting them and bringing them into the play, and from that gesture the words took on the sense of paying attention to someone.