Aí o bicho pegou
aí o bicho pegou: all hell broke loose
The expression comes from the hypothetical situation where you are being persecuted by a wild beast or animal and it catches up to you:
Lit: then the beast/animal caught up to me
MEANING:
- Problems will escalate.
- Things will get complicated
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Logo que pensei que eu estava seguro, aí o bicho pegou. → Just when I thought I was safe, all hell broke loose.
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Quando Sara entrou, aí o bicho pegou. → When Sara walked in, all hell broke loose.
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Assim que eu abri a porta, aí o bicho pegou. → As soon as I opened the door, all hell broke loose.
Um Deus nos acuda
um Deus nos acuda: all hell broke loose
A situation only God can solve or help to solve.
Lit: a ‘God help us’
MEANING:
- Problems are beyond control
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Eu escutei um barulho alto e depois foi um Deus no acuda. → I heard a loud noise and then all hell broke loose.
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Foi um Deus nos acuda quando o professor saiu da sala. → All hell broke loose when the teacher left the classroom.