Meaning
To air dirty laundry
Example
As duas lavaram muita roupa suja na frente de todo mundo!
The two of them aired a lot of dirty laundry in front of everyone!
Origin
The exact origin is not firmly documented, but the image is transparent. In the days before home plumbing, laundry was often scrubbed at a shared washhouse, fountain or riverbank, where any stain on a household's clothes was on display for all the neighbours to see.
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More idioms
Acertar na moscaTo guess correctly / To hit the nail on the headAmigo da onçaA fake/false friendAndar na linhaTo toe the line / To behave properlyArmar um barracoTo cause a public sceneRodar a baianaTo cause a public scene / To go ballisticArrumar sarna pra se coçarTo ask for troubleArrastar as asasTo hit on someone / To flirtAbrir o jogoTo come clean / To open upArregaçar as mangasTo roll up one's sleeves / To get to workAgarrar com unhas e dentesTo hold on for dear life / To seize an opportunity