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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

ter mão de pilão

English translation: to be ham-fisted / ham-handed

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:ter mão de pilão
English translation:to be ham-fisted / ham-handed
Entered by: Oliver Simões

18:37 Jul 23, 2021
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Glossary
Portuguese term or phrase: ter mão de pilão
Ter mão de pilão
1 Não ter habilidade, esp. em trabalhos manuais.
-- Aulete Digital

I thought of "be all (fingers and) thumbs", but I'm not sure that it conveys the same idea.

Any other idioms that you can think of?
Oliver Simões
United States
Local time: 02:56
ham fisted
Explanation:
ham fisted
Selected response from:

Nick Taylor
Local time: 10:56
Grading comment
Thank you, Nick and colleagues.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3ham fisted
Nick Taylor
4mechanically challenged
Barbara Cochran, MFA
4heavy handed..
airmailrpl


  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
mechanically challenged


Explanation:
https://www.macleans.ca/work/jobs/the-mechanically-challenge...

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 05:56
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you. So true: "Young people today can't hold a hammer or screw a screw". On the other hand, they are usually very good at computers, cell phones, etc.

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27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
ham fisted


Explanation:
ham fisted

Nick Taylor
Local time: 10:56
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 52
Grading comment
Thank you, Nick and colleagues.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Nick. The M-W points to "ham-handed" as a synonym. This definition seems to be a good match: https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/ham-handed Let's see what other people think.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Clauwolf
1 hr
  -> Cheers Clau
agree  Domini Lucas: I don't know the original, but this works well in English, and refers to a part of the hand. I'd go with ham-fisted rather than ham-handed but am UK based https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ham-fist...
8 hrs
  -> Thanks Domini
agree  Muriel Vasconcellos: Agree with Domini, though I have heard 'ham-fisted' in US English as well.
10 hrs
  -> Thanks Muriel
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
heavy handed..


Explanation:
ter mão de pilão => heavy handed..

What is a heavy handed person?
English Language Learners Definition of heavy-handed
: dealing with people or problems in a severe or harsh way : too strict or controlling. : awkward or clumsy : showing a lack of skill.
Definition of Heavy-handed by Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › heavy..

airmailrpl
Brazil
Local time: 06:56
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 64
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Robert. I already have idiom in the glossary: https://masterportuguesetranslator.com/glossaries/idioms-and-more/?name-directory-search-value=heavy+hand

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