Portuguese Phrase
Como você costuma lidar com isso?
Meaning
This phrase is used to inquire about a person's habits or methods for managing a specific situation, problem, or emotion. It combines the verb 'costumar' (to be in the habit of) with the phrasal verb 'lidar com' (to deal with).
When to use
Use this in conversations when a friend or colleague mentions a challenge and you want to understand their coping mechanism or seek advice on a shared problem. It is appropriate for both casual and professional settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Comovocêcostumalidarcomisso
Costumar
The verb 'costumar' is used to express habitual actions and is followed directly by another verb in the infinitive.
Lidar com
This is a fixed prepositional verb. You must always use 'com' to indicate what is being dealt with.
Isso
A demonstrative pronoun used to refer to something already mentioned in the conversation.
🗨In Conversation
Estou muito estressado com o trabalho novo.
I'm very stressed with the new job.
Sinto muito. Como você costuma lidar com isso?
I'm sorry. How do you usually deal with that?
✕Common Mistakes
Como você costuma lidar de isso?
The verb 'lidar' always requires the preposition 'com' (with) rather than 'de' (of).
Como você costuma tratar com isso?
While 'tratar' means to treat, 'lidar com' is the standard idiomatic expression for 'dealing with' a situation.
↔Alternatives
Como você resolve isso?
How do you solve this?
O que você faz nessa situação?
What do you do in this situation?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, discussing personal strategies for stress or work-life balance is common and helps build rapport. Using 'costuma' makes the question feel more interested in the person's character and routine rather than just the immediate problem.