Em Cima da Hora: Say Something Is at the Last Minute — Practice

Use em cima da hora for something close to a deadline

Em cima da hora means at the last minute or right at the time something is due. It often describes arriving with little time to spare, making a decision late, or changing a plan shortly before it happens.

The expression is informal and common in conversation. A related phrase, de última hora, often describes a last-minute decision or arrangement. In many situations the two are close, but em cima da hora strongly highlights how little time remained.

Put the phrase where it clarifies the timing

Em cima da hora commonly appears near the end of a sentence, after the action or the event: sair em cima da hora, chegar em cima da hora. It can also come earlier for emphasis: Em cima da hora, trocaram o local da reunião.

Do not use it for every event that happens soon. If you mean “in a little while,” daqui a pouco is more precise. Em cima da hora suggests that a deadline or scheduled moment is almost here.

Remember: Use em cima da hora when an action happens with almost no time before a deadline or scheduled event; use daqui a pouco for simply ‘soon.’

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I arrived just in time for the interview.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Cheguei em cima da hora para a entrevista.

2. She let us know at the last minute that she couldn’t go.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela avisou em cima da hora que não poderia ir.

3. We decided at the last minute to watch the movie.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A gente decidiu de última hora assistir ao filme.

4. The flight leaves at six; we’re arriving just in time.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O voo sai às seis; estamos chegando em cima da hora.

5. I’m going to pick up my sister in a little while.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Daqui a pouco vou buscar minha irmã.

6. Don’t leave this to the last minute.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não deixe para resolver isso em cima da hora.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use em cima da hora when an action happens with almost no time before a deadline or scheduled event; use daqui a pouco for simply ‘soon.’

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Em Cima da Hora: Say Something Is at the Last Minute lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.