The bandit's horse

Posted by ESC on January 12, 2005

In Reply to: The bandit's horse posted by José Carlos on January 11, 2005

: We have in Brazilian Portuguese a very funny (well funny to my ears, maybe not to yours) expression. It is difficult to translate but I will try to explain. It is used when you are talking either about a worthless person, a person of no importance, a nobody or about yourself when you are feeling like a poor wreck, a poor sneak or have been made to feel like that. We say in each case: He is (like) the dung from the bandit's horse - I am just feeling like the dung from the bandit's horse (or they have treated as if I were the dung from the bandit's horse). I think you may have got it. It is possible that such a expression came from the Western movies scenario, because the idea of a bandit riding on a horse feels so American. I wonder if you use a similar expression in American English. Or if this is purely an invention of Brazilian fans of that movie style.

: Jose Carlos

I've never heard that phrase. But expanding on the dung theme: He treated me like I was sh*t (or gum) on his shoe. Looked at me like I was a t*rd in a punch bowl.

• The undersea version Bob 12/January/05
  • The undersea version David FG 12/January/05