Portuguese Phrase
Olhe nos olhos e se afaste.
Meaning
A direct command telling someone to look straight into the speaker’s eyes and then step away. It carries a confrontational, almost theatrical tone, implying that the speaker wants the other person to see the truth before leaving.
When to use
Use this phrase in dramatic or heated situations – a movie scene, a heated argument, or when you want to emphasize that someone should face you before departing. It’s also useful for role‑play exercises that focus on strong imperatives in Portuguese.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Olhenosolhoseseafaste
Olhe (imperative)
‘Olhe’ is the formal (você) imperative of the verb ‘olhar’ (to look). The informal version would be ‘Olha’.
nos (prepositional contraction)
‘nos’ is the contraction of ‘em + os’, meaning ‘in the’ or ‘on the’ when referring to plural masculine nouns.
se afaste (reflexive imperative)
‘se afaste’ is the formal imperative of the reflexive verb ‘afastar‑se’ (to move away). The informal form would be ‘afasta‑te’.
Conjunction e
‘e’ simply links the two commands, equivalent to ‘and’ in English.
🗨In Conversation
Olhe nos olhos e se afaste.
Look into my eyes and step away.
Não preciso de mais explicações.
I don’t need any more explanations.
✕Common Mistakes
Olha nos olhos e se afaste.
Mixes informal ‘Olha’ with formal ‘se afaste’; keep the register consistent.
Olhe nos olhos e se afasta.
‘Se afasta’ is present indicative, not an imperative. Use ‘se afaste’ for a command.
Olhe olhos e se afaste.
Do not drop the preposition; ‘nos olhos’ (in the eyes) is required, not just ‘olhos’.
↔Alternatives
Olhe nos olhos e vá embora.
Look into the eyes and go away.
Mire nos olhos e se retire.
Aim at the eyes and withdraw.
Olha nos olhos e sai.
Look in the eyes and leave. (informal)
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, direct eye contact can be a sign of confidence, but it can also feel aggressive if combined with a command. Using the formal imperative ‘Olhe… se afaste’ adds a layer of politeness while still keeping a distance, making it suitable for theatrical dialogue or a stern warning. For everyday conversation you’d likely hear the informal version ‘Olha nos olhos e sai’. Also, remember that ‘se afaste’ is reflexive – the ‘se’ cannot be omitted.