Do you know that one person who is full of themselves, who walks around all high and mighty, and who is an expert in various fields (according to themselves)?
Well, in Brazilian Portuguese, we refer to them in an ironic way as “o alecrim dourado (the golden rosemary)“. The expression comes from a very old Portuguese lullaby from Portugal, which goes like this:
| Alecrim, alecrim dourado que nasce no monte sem ser semeado. | Rosemary, golden rosemary that grows on the hill without being sown. |
The fact that, in the song, the golden rosemary grows without being sown, makes it special and perfect among other plants and weeds. So, we use it ironically for someone who thinks they are unique and special.
Like many unique Portuguese expressions, unfortunately, English doesn’t have a perfect native expression that conveys the same meaning. A good one would be ‘a legend in their own mind’ or the one I am using here, ‘Mr. Big Shot’. Let’s get to it.
E tu, alecrim dourado, não vai ajudar não?
And you, Mr. Big Shot, aren’t you going to help?
Como sempre, o alecrim dourado não estudou pra prova.
As usual, Mr. Big Shot didn’t study for the test.
Mas se pergunte isso, alecrim dourado.
But ask yourself this, Mr. Big Shot.
Ele pode não ser “o alecrim dourado”, mas com certeza ele é “um alecrim dourado”.
He may not be “the Mr. Big Shot”, but certainly he is “a Mr. Big Shot”.
O alecrim dourado da sala fica só interrompendo a aula pra perguntar.
Mr. Big Shot in the class keeps interrupting the lesson to ask questions.
O alecrim dourado vive sustentado pelos pais.
Mr. Big Shot lives off his parents.
Mas quem você pensa que é, ô alecrim dourado!
And who do you think you are, Mr. Big Shot!
Ele era o alecrim dourado da equipe.
He was the Mr. Big Shot of the team.
By the way, “alecrim dourado” is not a positive term. People may feel offended if they’re called that, so use it with caution. And please, don’t be a “golden rosemary”. Te vejo no próximo post!