Maybe you have already heard Brazilians saying “golpe baixo” in movies, arguments, soap operas, or even casual conversations. This expression is very common in Brazilian Portuguese and is used when someone says or does something unfair, cruel, manipulative, or emotionally hurtful.
golpe baixo: hit below the belt
In Brazilian Portuguese, “golpe baixo” carries the same emotional weight for the situations below.
- Emotional manipulation
- Unfair criticism
- Bringing up sensitive topics
- Using something personal against someone during an argument.
It literally means: low blow
Practice the examples out loud and pay attention to how the expression changes depending on the sentence structure.
Isso é golpe baixo, meu amigo!
That’s hitting below the belt, my friend!
Foi um golpe baixo, Antônio, mas funcionou.
It was a hit below the belt, but it worked.
Irmão, não me leve a mal mas isso é golpe baixo.
Brother, don’t take it the wrong way, but that’s hitting below the belt.
Ele não teria ganhado sem aquele golpe baixo.
He wouldn’t have won without that hit below the belt.
Depois que eles terminaram, falar na Carol é golpe baixo.
After they broke up, talking about Carol is hitting below the belt.
Eu não lembro de ensinar vocês a dar golpe baixo.
I don’t remember teaching you guys to hit below the belt.
Usar sua influência como presidente é golpe baixo.
Using your influence as president is hitting below the belt.
Botar minha mãe na história é golpe baixo.
Bringing my mom into the story is hitting below the belt.
Falar a sós com meu cliente foi golpe baixo, Meritíssimo.
Talking to my client in private was hitting below the belt, Your Honor.
Trazer isso à tona depois de tanto tempo é golpe baixo, Márcia!
Bringing that up after so long is hitting below the belt, Márcia!
That’s it for today! As you can see, golpe baixo is a very expressive and emotional phrase in Brazilian Portuguese, and learning its English equivalent will help you sound much more natural.
Read the examples again, repeat them out loud, and try creating your own sentences using the expression. Before long, you’ll start noticing it everywhere in movies, series, and real conversations. Te vejo no próximo post!