Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
trocar os passos (when drunk)
English translation:
trip over one's own feet (quando bêbado)
Added to glossary by
Oliver Simões
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Oct 1, 2021 16:59
2 yrs ago
14 viewers *
Portuguese term
United States
BA in Transl., MA in ESL, 15 yrs of exp.
Native in: Portuguese 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Spanish to Portuguese, and 2 more.
trocar os passos
Portuguese to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Quote
"Quis continuar direito a Almedilha mas sabes o que me aconteceu? Avançava mas trocava os passos. E os pés. Tropeçava em mim." - Manuel da Silva Ramos, in "Três Vidas no Espelho"
Trocar o passo, COLOQ: andar tropeçando ou cambaleando. (Michaelis)
Is there an English idiom that uses the word "step" (meaning "stumbling" or "tripping over")?
Maybe "trip over one's steps"? Like when people do when they get wasted. :-)
Trocar o passo, COLOQ: andar tropeçando ou cambaleando. (Michaelis)
Is there an English idiom that uses the word "step" (meaning "stumbling" or "tripping over")?
Maybe "trip over one's steps"? Like when people do when they get wasted. :-)
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | losing my footing / tripping over myself |
Katarina Peters
|
| 3 | stumble along |
Paulo Melo
|
| 2 | miss one's step; take a mis-step |
Adrian MM.
|
Change log
Oct 2, 2021 16:23: Oliver Simões Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
26 mins
Paulo Melo
Brazil
Brazil
Native in Portuguese
Works in field
Brazil
Certified PRO, med, edu, travel
Native in: Portuguese (Variants: Brazilian, European/Portugal)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese, Portuguese to English
stumble along
Sug.
Note from asker:
| Is there an English idiom that uses the word "step" (meaning "stumbling" or "tripping over")? |
19 hrs
Adrian MM.
Austria
Austria
Native in English
Austria
Retd.T&I, Barrister & Austro-Advokat
Native in: English (Variants: British, Scottish) 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, French to English, and 5 more.
miss one's step; take a mis-step
The asker seeks to incorporate the idea of steps.
Not sure of the Portuguese idea, hence low confidence, but I - having fallen down concrete steps as a toddler and survived - think a mis-step is taken rather than made.
Not sure of the Portuguese idea, hence low confidence, but I - having fallen down concrete steps as a toddler and survived - think a mis-step is taken rather than made.
Example sentence:
High quality example sentences with “take a misstep” in context from reliable sources
A misstep can mean a nasty and possibly fatal fall.
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Adrian. I just posted a note to Katarina in which I elaborated on the meaning of "trocar os passos". The expres also has other meanings; see entry on the DB. I'm primarily interested in meaning no. 1. I don't believe "miss one's step" captures the nuance of meaning, either. It's the same as "stumble". |
+1
2 hrs
Katarina Peters
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Canada
Accuracy and A1 presentation
Native in: Hungarian , English (Variant: US)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Hungarian to English, and 13 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
losing my footing / tripping over myself
suggestions.
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Note added at 21 hrs (2021-10-02 14:24:52 GMT)
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how about fumbling my steps ?
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Note added at 21 hrs (2021-10-02 14:24:52 GMT)
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how about fumbling my steps ?
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Katarina. How about "trip over one's steps"? Apparently, "trip over oneself" means "to do something quickly and very eagerly", according to three different websites that I consulted (including ProZ). As far as "lose one's footing", Farlex gives this definition: "To slip, stumble, and/or fall during an activity in which one is using one's feet, such as walking, dancing, climbing, etc. " It seems too broad. I don't believe Michaelis' definition for "trocar os passos" captures the nuance of meaning, either. In my mind, it has to do with the way someone walks when he/she is as drunk as a skunk, ("uncoordinated legs/steps" in regular parlance) so "cambalear" doesn't seem to be quite precise., it refers to the swaying of the body as a result of the tripping legs I was hoping "trip over one's steps" might do the trick. I just posted a comment on the DB about other meanings of this phrase. |
| Sorry, my explanation may be a little confusing. I meant to say, "trocar os passos" has to do with a dead-drunk person's steps/legs when he or she tries to walk. The legs are usually uncoordinated, which results in tripping over the drunkard's steps and stumbling. To me, "cambalear" is not the same as "trocar os passos"". I have a differerent imagery of both. The former has to do with the swaying of the body, the latter with the movement of the tripping steps/legs. |
| Thank you, Katarina. I think I found what I was looking for, it doesn't include the word "steps", but it's close enough: trip over one's own feet. |
Discussion
We've all seen the stereotypical "drunk" in movies and television shows: He's the one staggering down the street, clothing askew, slurring his words and tripping over his own feet. (How Stuff Works: Science)
Scenario where Undertaker gets totally drunk and how he acts while drunk
They just watched, and as they expected, he tired himself out. His s/o helped him make his way the couch, as he was tripping over his own feet. (Black Butler Scenarios website)
Drunk and Disorderly
"He's just a little drunk. I don't think tripping over his own feet is going to be life-threatening." (Fan Fiction)
1) "Rico só voltou às 18 horas sem os tomates, completamente bêbado, trocando os passos e com a roupa rasgada toda suja de barro." (Daniel Pitanga)
2) "O andador para bebê foi desenvolvido para ajudar na locomoção da criança enquanto ela ainda não consegue trocar os passos de maneira autônoma, sem apoios." (Guia de Bem Estar)
3)
"Trocar...
Trocar a ideia pra conhecer
Essa candeia que queremos acender
Trocar os passos, trocar a dança
Trocar os gestos que alargam uma aliança
Trocar o corpo, trocar a voz
Trocar o canto pra não cantarmos sós" (António Variações)