I was reading an VOA article and found some expressions that I don't know the portuguese translation (even with the explanation).
"Someone who keeps his nose to the grindstone works very hard. This can help a worker keep his nose clean or stay out of trouble."
"Play it by ear also means to decide what to do at the last minute instead of making detailed plans."
"We might even put a bug in your ear or give you an idea about something."
"Some people are said to be hard-nosed. They will not change their opinions or positions on anything."
"We also say that sometimes a person cuts off his nose to spite his face. That is, he makes a situation worse for himself by doing something foolish because he is angry."
http://www1.voanews.com/learningenglish ... 40517.html