In Portugal, plans get made with a question like Quinta-feira dá-te jeito?Does Thursday work for you?
Let’s break it down:
Say Dá, dá.It does, it does. and Thursday’s booked.
But wait, what is jeito?
It originally came from the Latin iactus, the act of throwing. Over time the word changed and the meaning broadened into bodily movement and position, and then into the general way/manner something is done or arranged. Applied over centuries to skill, timing, handling, and so on, it eventually made its way into many expressions we use today.
dar jeito (to fit, suit, come in handy)
- Não me dá jeito nenhum ir às compras ao sábado.Shopping on Saturday doesn't work for me at all.
- Dava-me jeito que aparecesses mais tarde.It would suit me
dar um jeito (to find a way, figure out a solution, fix, spruce up)
- Não te preocupes, eu dou um jeito.Don't worry, I'll figure something out.
- Vou tentar dar um jeito na fechadura.I'll try to fix the lock.
- Dei jeito à casa.I spruced up the house.
dar um mau jeito (to strain/sprain something through an awkward movement)
- Dei um mau jeito nas costas a levantar o sofá.I did my back in lifting the sofa.
a jeito (positioning that lends itself to a particular outcome)
- O martelo estava ali mesmo a jeito.The hammer was right there within reach.
- Ele pôs-se a jeito.He made himself an easy target.
ter jeito para (to have a knack for something)
- Ela tem imenso jeito para as línguas.She has a real knack for languages.
com jeito / com jeitinho (carefully)
- Abre a caixa com jeito.Open the box carefully.
- Pede-lhe com jeitinho.Ask him nicely.
The diminutive does two jobs here. It softens the action, and it hints that the outcome depends on how you go about it rather than on what you’re asking for.
de jeito (decent, proper, worth anything)
Almost always used with negative framing.
- Não há aqui um café de jeito.There isn't a single decent café around here.
- Ele nunca faz nada de jeito.He never does anything properly.
- Não vi nada de jeito.I didn't see anything worthwhile.
- Viste alguma coisa de jeito?Did you see anything good? (slightly sceptical tone)