Learn Portuguese (Portugal): O duplo por pouco não caiu do penhasco. - The stunt double almost fell from the cliff.

O duplo por pouco não caiu do penhasco.

The stunt double almost fell from the cliff.

Breakdown of O duplo por pouco não caiu do penhasco.

não

not / no

of the / from the (do, da, dos, das)

pouco

little

por

through / by / for / because of

Questions & Answers about O duplo por pouco não caiu do penhasco.

Why is there a não in por pouco não caiu when the English translation says 'almost fell'?

In Portuguese, por pouco não literally translates to 'by a little, it didn't'. The expression highlights that the action was narrowly avoided. Because of this logic, you must include não to mean 'almost happened', which often feels backwards to English speakers!

Could I use quase instead of por pouco não here?

Yes, you could say O duplo quase caiu. Both mean the same thing, but por pouco não adds more dramatic emphasis to how close the call was. Just remember that quase is used affirmatively, while por pouco requires the não.

Why is caiu in the Pretérito Perfeito Simples (simple past) rather than the Imperfeito?

Even though the fall never actually happened, the narrow escape is viewed as a single, completed event in the past. The window of danger opened and closed in a specific instant, so we use the Pretérito Perfeito Simples.

Is duplo the standard word for a 'stunt double'?

Yes! While duplo is most commonly an adjective meaning 'double', when used as a noun in a film or television context, it specifically translates to 'stunt double' or 'body double'.