Portuguese: Dar carne a gato.
Literal translation: To feed steak to a cat.
English equivalent: To loosen the ropes.
Meaning: To make it easy for someone, particularly for someone smart or skilled. The cat is supposedly an efficient predator that can catch their own prey.
Note: This blog is part of a series on Brazilian Sayings (in Portuguese, “Ditados Brasileiros”). They cover expressions commonly used in Brazilian Portuguese that may or may not translate perfectly into English.