dar o troco

Portuguese

Meaning

to get back at someone, to get even

Example

Ela não ficou calada, deu o troco na mesma hora.

She didn't stay quiet, she got back at him right away.

Origin

A expressão vem do sentido comercial de troco: o dinheiro que se devolve a quem pagou. Por trás está o verbo trocar (do latim vulgar), a ideia de dar de volta algo equivalente.

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More idioms

ter dois dedos de prosato have a quick chat tapar o sol com a peneirato try to hide the obvious, to bury one's head in the sand pegar no péto nag, to be on someone's case dar uma bananato flip someone off, to give the finger engolir em secoto gulp, to swallow hard