Learn English – How to translate “Jeitinho Brasileiro” into English

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Jeitinho Brasileiro can be literally translated to "Brazilian way to do things"! Wikipedia has an article about it.

There are various meaning to this expression and one gives the idea of "Malandragem". I want to know an english expression that can pass the same idea of this expression, that is: in an imaginative and dubious way, you circumventing a rule not in fact violating it.

This is a rea example of Jeitinho Brasileiro. There is a law that every cultural event needs create 50% of discount to students. But businessmen created an imaginative way to solve it. Put the price of ticket in $100 then create a promotion: If you give one kilo of food, you will win 50% of discount. But if you are a student, you pay your 50% of discount in the full price. Everyone has discount, but in fact, no one has it! How can I call what he did?

The Brazilian version of Blame it on Lisa from The Simpsons uses this expression, but the original version is:

Bart: Hey, look! There's Copacabana beach! The heart and soul of Rio!
Lifeguard: Excuse me, Americans!
Homer: How did you know?
Lifeguard: There is a dress code on this beach. But we can help you.
Bart: I feel so European.

When the lifeguard says "But we can help you.", in Portuguese he say "But we have the Jeitinho Brasileiro". This doesn't help to much.

So, what expression can I translate it in English with? What expression do you use when someone is being malandro with you?

Best Answer

I asked a local Brazilian and she said that the phrase is more commonly used to just mean the Brazilian way of doing things:

We put garlic in our rice; it's just the Brazilian Way.

When I mentioned the specific meaning you were aiming for she frowned and took offense. And then offered these suggestions:

Opportunist — unprincipled resourceful person: somebody who takes advantage of something, especially somebody who does so in a devious, unscrupulous, or unprincipled way

Shyster — unethical person: an unscrupulous person, especially a lawyer or political representative

Adding a few of my own:

Circumventing — get around restriction: to find a way of avoiding restrictions imposed by a rule or law without actually breaking it

Loophole — gap in law: a small mistake or omission in a rule or law that allows it to be circumvented

Workaround — way to bypass a problem: a technique that enables somebody to overcome a problem without actually putting things right

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