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Olha lá para o público e aproveita a ovação.

Olha lá para o público e aproveita a ovação.
Just look at the audience and enjoy the ovation.
From Lesson 499:Softening commands (lá)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Olha lá para o público e aproveita a ovação.

How does the word lá change the meaning of the command olha?
As a pragmatic mitigator, lá softens the imperative. Instead of a strict command like "Look at the audience!", it acts more like an encouragement or a gentle nudge, similar to saying "Just look..." or "Go on, look..." in English.
Why do the verbs olha and aproveita end in "-a" instead of "-as"?
They are in the informal affirmative tu imperative (command) form. To form this, you take the present tense tu conjugation (olhas, aproveitas) and drop the final "s".
Why do we use the preposition para instead of a after olhar here?
When indicating the direction of your gaze (looking at something or someone), the verb olhar is almost always followed by para. Directing your eyes "at" the audience requires para o público, whereas translating literally from English might tempt you to incorrectly use a.
In other contexts, what else can the verb aproveitar mean?
While it means "enjoy" or "savour" here, aproveitar broadly means "to make the most of". It is frequently used to mean "to take advantage of" an opportunity or situation, or to utilize something so it does not go to waste.

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