chover canivete

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• chover canivetes

Etymology

Literally, “to rain pocketknives”.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʃoˈve(ʁ) ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃi/ [ʃoˈve(h) ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃi]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʃoˈve(ʁ) ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃi/ [ʃoˈve(h) ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃi]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ʃoˈve(ɾ) ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃi/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ʃoˈve(ʁ) ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃi/ [ʃoˈve(χ) ka.niˈvɛ.t͡ʃi]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʃoˈve(ɻ) ka.niˈvɛ.te/

Verb

chover canivete (first-person singular present chovo canivete, first-person singular preterite chovi canivete, past participle chovido canivete)

1. (idiomatic, Brazil) to rain pitchforks; to rain cats and dogs (to rain heavily)

   Começou a chover canivetes de manhã.

   It began raining pitchforks in the morning.

2. (idiomatic, Brazil) for something catastrophic to occur; used in the format “pode chover canivete mas ...” (It could rain pocketknives but ...), “... nem que chova canivete” (... even if pocketknives rain), or similar, to indicate that something else will occur no matter what

   Não saio daqui nem que chova canivetes.

   I won’t leave this place no matter what.

3. (idiomatic, Brazil) used to indicate that something very unlikely happened

   Ganhamos o jogo?! Agora vai chover canivete.

   We won the game?! It will rain pocketknives now.