I’M AT MY WIT’S END.
👉Estou no meu limite/ estou sem saber o que fazer.
HE GOT A “FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT” ON THOSE SUNGLASSES.
👉Ele roubou os óculos de sol.
I”M EXHAUSTED. I’M GONNA CRASH.
👉Estou exausta. Vou dormir.
HE GHOSTED ME.
👉Ele parou de me responder.
I’M UNDER THE WEATHER.
👉I’m feeling sick (estou me sentindo mal).
I’M DOWN.
👉I agree (eu concordo).

🔹 I’M AT MY WIT’S END.

Meaning:
👉 Estou no meu limite.
👉 Não sei mais o que fazer.
👉 Estou desesperado(a) / sem saber como resolver a situação.

It means you have tried different things and can’t think of any other solution.

💡 “wit” here refers to your ability to think, reason, or find a solution. So, literally, it is like saying: “I have reached the end of my ability to figure this out.”

Examples

I’ve tried everything. I’m at my wit’s end.
→ Tentei de tudo. Estou no meu limite.
I’m at my wit’s end with my computer. It keeps crashing!
→ Estou no meu limite com meu computador. Ele não para de travar!
She’s at her wit’s end trying to get her kids to behave.
→ Ela está no limite tentando fazer os filhos se comportarem.
We’ve been looking for a solution for weeks. We’re at our wit’s end.
→ Estamos procurando uma solução há semanas. Não sabemos mais o que fazer.
I’m at my wit’s end. Nothing I do seems to work.
→ Estou no meu limite. Nada do que faço parece funcionar.

🗣️ Very natural variations

You can change the possessive depending on the subject:

I’m at my wit’s end.
She’s at her wit’s end.
He’s at his wit’s end.
We’re at our wit’s end.
They’re at their wit’s end.

⭐ A useful distinction

I’m frustrated = Estou frustrado(a).
I’m at my wit’s end = Estou tão frustrado(a) que não sei mais o que fazer.

So, “at my wit’s end” is stronger than simply saying “I’m frustrated.”

🕶️ HE GOT A “FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT” ON THOSE SUNGLASSES.

Meaning:
👉 He stole those sunglasses.
👉 Ele roubou aqueles óculos de sol.

“Five-finger discount” is a humorous slang expression for stealing something from a store instead of paying for it.

The joke is that your five fingers “give you” the discount! 😄

Examples

He got a five-finger discount on that jacket.
→ Ele roubou aquela jaqueta.
She got a five-finger discount on a pair of earrings.
→ Ela roubou um par de brincos.
Did you pay for that, or did you get a five-finger discount?
→ Você pagou por isso ou roubou?
He said he got a five-finger discount, but I told him stealing isn’t funny.
→ Ele disse que roubou, mas eu falei que roubar não tem graça.

💡 Important: It’s informal and humorous, so it’s more likely to appear in casual conversation, movies, TV shows, or jokes than in formal English.

A very natural alternative:

He shoplifted those sunglasses.
→ Ele furtou/roubou aqueles óculos de sol.

Shoplift specifically means to steal something from a store.

😴 I’M EXHAUSTED. I’M GONNA CRASH.

This is a very natural, informal way to say:

👉 Estou exausto(a). Vou dormir.
👉 Estou acabado(a). Vou capotar. (more colloquial)

Here, “crash” does not mean an accident. In this context, to crash means to go to sleep because you are extremely tired.

🔹 “I’m exhausted.”

= Estou exausto(a). / Estou acabado(a).

Exhausted is stronger than tired:

I’m tired. → Estou cansado(a).
I’m really tired. → Estou muito cansado(a).
I’m exhausted. → Estou exausto(a). / Estou acabado(a).

🔹 “I’m gonna crash.”

gonna = going to

👉 I’m gonna crash. = Vou dormir. / Vou apagar. / Vou capotar.

More examples:

I’ve been working all day. I’m exhausted. I’m gonna crash.
→ Trabalhei o dia inteiro. Estou acabado(a). Vou dormir.
It’s been a long day. I’m gonna crash.
→ Foi um dia longo. Vou dormir.
I’m so exhausted I could crash right now.
→ Estou tão cansado(a) que poderia apagar agora.
I can’t keep my eyes open. I’m gonna crash.
→ Não consigo manter os olhos abertos. Vou apagar.

💡 Teaching tip: “I’m gonna crash” is quite informal and conversational. It’s great for teaching students how native speakers talk, especially with friends and family.

👻 HE GHOSTED ME.

Meaning:
👉 Ele parou de falar comigo.
👉 Ele parou de me responder.
👉 Ele simplesmente sumiu.

To ghost someone means to suddenly stop communicating with someone without explaining why, especially in texting, dating, or social situations.

Examples

We were talking every day, and then he ghosted me.
→ A gente conversava todos os dias e, de repente, ele parou de falar comigo.
I sent her three messages, but she ghosted me.
→ Mandei três mensagens para ela, mas ela parou de me responder.
He ghosted me after our second date.
→ Ele sumiu depois do nosso segundo encontro.
Why did you ghost me?
→ Por que você parou de falar comigo?
I thought we were friends, but she just ghosted me.
→ Eu achava que éramos amigos, mas ela simplesmente sumiu.

🗣️ Useful forms

ghost → verb

He ghosted me. → Ele sumiu / parou de falar comigo.
She’s ghosting me. → Ela está me ignorando / parando de responder.
Don’t ghost me! → Não some! / Não pare de falar comigo!

💡 Important: Ghost is modern, informal slang. It’s especially common when talking about dating and texting, but it can be used for friendships and other relationships too.

🌧️ I’M UNDER THE WEATHER.

This is a very common English idiom meaning:

👉 Não estou me sentindo bem.
👉 Estou meio indisposto(a).
👉 Estou passando mal. (depending on the context)

It usually means you’re feeling a little sick or unwell, often because of a cold, flu, tiredness, etc.

Examples

I’m feeling a little under the weather today.
→ Hoje não estou me sentindo muito bem.
I think I’m coming down with a cold. I’m a bit under the weather.
→ Acho que estou pegando um resfriado. Estou meio indisposto(a).
She’s been under the weather all week.
→ Ela não tem se sentido bem a semana toda.
I’m sorry I can’t go out tonight. I’m feeling under the weather.
→ Desculpe, não posso sair hoje à noite. Não estou me sentindo bem.
He looked a little under the weather this morning.
→ Ele parecia meio indisposto hoje de manhã.

⭐ Compare:

I’m sick. → Estou doente / Estou passando mal.
I’m not feeling well. → Não estou me sentindo bem.
I’m under the weather. → Estou meio indisposto(a). (idiomatic, softer)

👍 I’M DOWN.

This is a very common informal expression, especially in American English.

“I’m down” = “I agree / I’m willing to do it.”

👉 Eu topo.
👉 Eu aceito.
👉 Estou dentro.
👉 Pode ser.

It’s often used when someone suggests an activity or plan.

Examples

“Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?”
“I’m down!”
→ “Você quer sair para jantar hoje?”
“Eu topo!”
“How about watching a movie?”
“I’m down.”
→ “Que tal assistir a um filme?”
“Estou dentro.”
“We’re going to the beach this weekend. Are you down?”
“Absolutely! I’m down.”
→ “Vamos à praia neste fim de semana. Você topa?”
“Com certeza! Estou dentro.”
“I’m down for pizza.”
→ “Eu topo pizza.” / “Pizza é uma boa para mim.”

⭐ Very useful structure

I’m down for + noun

I’m down for pizza.
I’m down for a movie.
I’m down for a road trip.

I’m down to + verb

I’m down to go. → Eu topo ir.
I’m down to help. → Eu topo ajudar.
I’m down to try it. → Eu topo experimentar.

⚠️ Important: I’m down has other meanings too. For example, “I’m feeling down” means “Estou para baixo / estou triste.” So “I’m down” ≠ “I’m sad” when it’s being used as an expression of agreement.

IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS – PRACTICE

Target Expressions

I’m at my wit’s end. → I don’t know what else to do.
He got a five-finger discount. → He stole it.
I’m exhausted. I’m gonna crash. → I’m extremely tired. I’m going to sleep.
He ghosted me. → He suddenly stopped communicating with me.
I’m under the weather. → I’m not feeling well.
I’m down. → I agree / I’m willing to do it.

1. Match the expressions to the meanings

Write the correct letter.

___ I’m at my wit’s end.
___ He got a five-finger discount.
___ I’m exhausted. I’m gonna crash.
___ He ghosted me.
___ I’m under the weather.
___ I’m down.

A. I’m not feeling well.
B. I agree / I’m willing to do it.
C. He stole it.
D. I don’t know what else to do.
E. He suddenly stopped communicating with me.
F. I’m extremely tired and I’m going to sleep.

2. Choose the best expression

Complete each sentence with the correct expression.

I’ve tried everything to fix this computer. __________________________.
“Do you want to go to the beach this weekend?”
“Sure! __________________________!”
I worked a 12-hour shift today. __________________________.
We were texting every day, and then suddenly __________________________.
I think I’m getting a cold. __________________________.
He didn’t pay for those sunglasses. He __________________________.

3. Complete the conversations

Use the expressions from the box.

A

A: How are you feeling today?
B: Not very well. __________________________.

B

A: Want to grab some pizza tonight?
B: Sure! __________________________!

C

A: What happened with Tom?
B: We went on two dates, and then __________________________.

D

A: Why are you so frustrated?
B: My students keep forgetting their homework. __________________________!

E

A: Are you going to stay up and watch another movie?
B: No way! __________________________.

F

A: Did he actually pay for those sunglasses?
B: No. He got a __________________________.