Do you remember the television series “Little House on the Prairie”? This show might have aired a little before your time 🙂 , but my kids have discovered it and enjoy watching it with my wife and me. The series revolves around the Ingalls, a family that lived in the 19th century American West.

• this show might have aired… = este show pode ter sido transmitido…
• air = “passar”/ser transmitido/ser exibido (um filme, seriado, etc.)
• before (your) time = antes da sua época [literalmente] [This program was before my time. = Este programa não é da minha época.]
• revolve (around) = girar (em torno)
• the Ingalls = a família Ingalls [Em inglês, usa-se o artigo “the” antes de um sobrenome (no plural) para se referir à uma família. Exemplo: The Barretts = a família Barrett

In this episode, young Timothy Warren was suffering deep emotional pain and the teachers of the school for the blind were having a hard time getting through to him.

• deep = profundo/a
• pain = dor
• school for the blind = escola para cegos
• have a hard time = ter dificuldades
• get through to someone = ver explicação abaixo

Watch the video and learn the phrasal verb “get through to someone”.

[note class=”idea”]DICA: Clique no primeiro botão “Imprima com PrintFriendly” no final deste texto onde diz “Share the Knowledge” para gerar uma formatação mais simples para impressão.

I Can’t Get Through to Him (from “Make a Joyful Noise”, Little House on the Prairie) – Preencha as Lacunas:

See answers and explanations below. (Veja as respostas e explicações abaixo.)

Hester-Sue: Timothy, the Boston Tea Party was a very interesting subject. I know you’d like it. Why don’t you go sit with Gideon and he can help you.
Timothy: I don’t want any help.
Hester-Sue: Well, why not? I mean, we’re friends; aren’t we?
Timothy: I don’t want any friends, either.
Hester-Sue: Timothy, why do you _________ it is you’re here?
Timothy: It’s all a ________ .
Hester-Sue: Oh?
Timothy: I’m not ______ like everybody else. I’m going to see again, and my parents are going to be back to get me.
Hester-Sue: But until they do, you have to work like the rest of them.
Timothy: No, I don’t. I told you! I’m not blind like everybody else. I’m going to see again, so I don’t have to learn all this stuff.
Hester-Sue: Well, you can’t just sit there. You want to do something?!
Timothy: I want to be left ______ until my mother and father come back to get me. That’s all.
Hester-Sue: All right. If you finish your lesson, we’ll go on with questions and answers.
—
Hester-Sue: I am absolutely at the end of my _________ .
Mary: What’s wrong?
Hester-Sue: Timothy Warren! Ever since that child has been here, he’s had a wall _______ _____ around him (that) Joshua himself couldn’t penetrate.
Mary: You mean he still won’t cooperate?
Hester-Sue: Not one bit. He has this idea in his head that he’s not blind like the rest of them. He’s going to see one day and he’s just waiting for the miracle to happen.
Mary: Oh, we’ve had children with that problem here before.
Hester-Sue: Not like Timothy Warren, we haven’t.
Mary: If only Adam were here. He’d know how to get through.
—-
Joe: Are you ok, young fellow?
Hester-Sue: What’s the __________ of this? What’s the __________ of all this?
Joe: Seems there was a difference of opinion.
Hester-Sue: Timothy! All right, I want to see you two in my office first thing in the morning. In the __________ , you go upstairs to your rooms. Watch it. Take this book. Guess I really don’t need an explanation. It’s that Timothy Warren! That boy has upset this whole school. I don’t understand him. He has no feelings.
Joe: Oh, Hester-Sue, everybody feels. Some folks just have a ____________ time showing it. That’s all.
Hester-Sue: But I’ve tried so hard, and I can’t get through to him.
Joe: You know, the boy’s probably got a lot of emotion bottled up inside. It’ll _______ time.
Hester-Sue: I suppose.
—-
Hester-Sue: I’m trying to help you, Timothy.
Timothy: You can already tell that I don’t want any.
Hester-Sue: Then help me. Maybe you could tell me what I could do for you.
Timothy: Absolutely nothing. May I be ________ ?
Hester-Sue: No, you may not. Now you think you’re better than the other students, but you’re not. There are things expected of them, and there are things expected of you. And starting tomorrow, you will no longer be ________ around in this school. You will come in this classroom and open your mouth and sing just like the other students.
Timothy: No, I won’t.
Hester-Sue: Yes, you will.
Timothy: Listen, you may be able to force me to be here, but you can’t force me to sing or anything else.
—-
Mary: Oh! Hester-Sue?
Hester-Sue: Yes?
Mary: Is something wrong?
Hester-Sue: I can’t get through to him, Mary.
Mary: Timothy.
Hester-Sue: Yes, Timothy. I feel like such a ________ . You know, I feel if I can’t get through to one child, if I can’t make one child understand, then maybe I’m not getting through to any of them.
Mary: Hester-Sue, you’re a fine teacher, and you know it.
—-
Joe: Ah, that’s good.
Hester-Sue: Timothy, what are you doing down here?
Joe: It was my idea.
Hester-Sue: Go back ________ to choir practice. And I want you to leave Timothy alone.
Joe: But–but I’m getting through to the boy.
Hester-Sue: By teaching him violence?
Joe: That’s right. Against a sack of grain instead of against himself. He’s got a world of pain to let through, and it’s happening.
Hester-Sue: I’ve dealt with the needs of blind children for many years, Mr. Kagan, and I don’t ______ you to teach me my job.
—-
Joe: Hey there, young fella! How come you’re not upstairs with everybody else?
Timothy: Because I’m not.
Joe: Well, now, there’s a good reason. Don’t you want to say good-bye to me?
Timothy: No.
Joe: Why not?
Timothy: I finally make one friend who understands…
Joe: …Understanding cuts two ways, Timothy. I just can’t stay here with Hester-Sue getting married.
Timothy: But I need you.
Joe: I have to make it without Hester-Sue, and you have to make it without me.
Timothy: I can’t.
Joe: Sure, you can.
Timothy: You just don’t care about ________ me _______ .
Joe: You’re ________ yourself _______ . There are plenty of good reasons for you to like this place.
Timothy: Like what?
Joe: The other children, Mrs. Kendall. I’m going up now to say good-bye. You coming? … Good-bye, son. I’ll miss you.
—-
♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪
♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪
♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪
♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪
♪ Why don’t you? ♪
Timothy: ♪ When I was a sinner ♪
♪ I sinned both nights and day ♪
♪ I asked my Lord to help me ♪
♪ And he showed me the way ♪
Choir: ♪ Why don’t you… Go tell it on the mountain ♪

Mary: If only Hester-Sue could ______ this!
Joe: Yeah. Maybe she should. Sure. Why not? Look, don’t stop singing, anybody. We are going to a __________ .

I Can’t Get Through to Him (from “Make a Joyful Noise”, Little House on the Prairie) – Script, Translations, and Explanations

See answers and explanations below. (Veja as respostas e explicações abaixo.)

Hester-Sue: Timothy, the Boston Tea Party was a very interesting subject. I know you’d like it. Why don’t you go sit with Gideon and he can help you.
Timothy: I don’t want any help.
Hester-Sue: Well, why not? I mean, we’re friends; aren’t we?
Timothy: I don’t want any friends, either.
Hester-Sue: Timothy, why do you suppose it is you’re here?

• Why do you suppose (it is) you’re here? = Por que você acha que está aqui?

Timothy: It’s all a mistake.

• mistake = erro

Hester-Sue: Oh?

Timothy: I’m not blind like everybody else. I’m going to see again, and my parents are going to be back to get me.

• blind = cego
• like everybody else = como todos os outros
• to get me = para me pegar

Hester-Sue: But until they do, you have to work like the rest of them.

like the rest of them = como os outros/demais

Timothy: No, I don’t. I told you! I’m not blind like everybody else. I’m going to see again, so I don’t have to learn all this stuff.

• I told you! = já te falei!

Hester-Sue: Well, you can’t just sit there. You want to do something?!
Timothy: I want to be left alone until my mother and father come back to get me. That’s all.

• left alone = deixado em paz
• That’s all = É só isso.

Hester-Sue: All right. If you finished your list, we’ll go on with questions and answers.

• go on = continuar

—
Hester-Sue: I am absolutely at the end of my patience.

• I’m at the end of my patience. = Já esgotou minha paciência.

Mary: What’s wrong?
Hester-Sue: Timothy Warren! Ever since that child has been here, he’s had a wall built up around him (that) Joshua himself couldn’t penetrate.

• ever since = desde que
• built up = construído, erguido
• Joshua = personagem bíblico que liderou o povo de Israel na conquista da Terra Prometida e na derrubada dos muros de Jericó.

Mary: You mean he still won’t cooperate?

• you mean = você quer dizer (que)
• he (still) won’t cooperate = ele (ainda) não quer cooperar

Hester-Sue: Not one bit. He has this idea in his head that he’s not blind like the rest of them. He’s going to see one day and he’s just waiting for the miracle to happen.

• not one bit = nem um pouqinho
• see = ver, enxergar
• miracle = milagre

Mary: Oh, we’ve had children with that problem here before.
Hester-Sue: Not like Timothy Warren, we haven’t.
Mary: If only Adam were here. He’d know how to get through.

• if only (Adam) were here = se ao menos (Adam) estivesse aqui
• get through = Ver explicação abaixo.

—-

Joe: Are you ok, young fellow?

• young fellow = rapazinho

Hester-Sue: What’s the meaning of this? What’s the meaning of all this?

• what’s the meaning of this? = o que significa isso?

Joe: Seems there was a difference of opinion.

• seems… = parece (que)

Hester-Sue: Timothy! All right, I want to see you two in my office first thing in the morning. In the meantime, you go upstairs to your rooms. Watch it! Take this book. Guess I really don’t need an explanation. It’s that Timothy Warren! That boy has upset this whole school. I don’t understand him. He has no feelings.

• first thing in the morning = logo de manhã (antes de mais nada)
• in the meantime = enquanto isso
• go upstairs = suba (as escadas)
• watch it! = cuidado!
• upset = perturbado, abalado
• feelings = sentimentos

Joe: Oh, Hester-Sue, everybody feels. Some folks just have a tougher time showing it. That’s all.

• folks, informal = people
• a tougher time showing it = mais dificuldades para demonstrar (os sentimentos)

Hester-Sue: But I’ve tried so hard, and I can’t get through to him.

• get through to = Ver explicação abaixo.

Joe: You know, the boy’s probably got a lot of emotion bottled up inside. It’ll take time.
Hester-Sue: I suppose.

• bottled up = Ensinamos este phrasal verb que começa com a letra B em nosso segundo fascículo –

Phrasal Verbs that begin with the letter B

https://domineingles.com.br/products-page/phrasal-verbs/phrasal-verbs-with-b/

• it’ll take time = vai demorar um pouco

—-
Hester-Sue: I’m trying to help you, Timothy.
Timothy: You can already tell that I don’t want any.

• you can (already) tell = (já) dá para notar

Hester-Sue: Then help me. Maybe you could tell me what I could do for you.
Timothy: Absolutely nothing. May I be excused?

• may I be excused? = posso me retirar? / me dá licença? / com licença?

Hester-Sue: No, you may not. Now you think you’re better than the other students, but you’re not. There are things expected of them, and there are things expected of you. And starting tomorrow, you will no longer be coddled around in this school. You will come in this classroom and open your mouth and sing just like the other students.

• coddled = mimado

Timothy: No, I won’t.

• no, I won’t! = não vou não!

Hester-Sue: Yes, you will.
Timothy: Listen, you may be able to force me to be here, but you can’t force me to sing or anything else.

—-

Mary: Oh! Hester-Sue?
Hester-Sue: Yes?
Mary: Is something wrong?
Hester-Sue: I can’t get through to him, Mary.

• get through to him = Ver explicação abaixo.

Mary: Timothy.
Hester-Sue: Yes, Timothy. I feel like such a failure. You know, I feel if I can’t get through to one child, if I can’t make one child understand, then maybe I’m not getting through to any of them.

• I feel like (such a) failure. = Eu me sinto como um fracasso.
• get through to = Ver explicação abaixo.

Mary: Hester-sue, you’re a fine teacher, and you know it.
—-
Joe: Ah, that’s good.
Hester-Sue: Timothy, what are you doing down here?

• down here = aqui em baixo

Joe: It was my idea.
Hester-Sue: Go back upstairs to choir practice. And I want you to leave Timothy alone.

• choir practice = ensaio do coro
• leave (him) alone = deixe(-o) e paz

Joe: But–but I’m getting through to the boy.

• get through to = Ver explicação abaixo.

Hester-Sue: By teaching him violence?
Joe: That’s right. Against a sack of grain instead of against himself. He’s got a world of pain to let through, and it’s happening.

• against = contra
• a sack of grain = saco de grãos
• instead of = em vez de
• he’s got = he has = ele tem
• a world of pain, expressão = “muita” dor
• let through = deixar sair

Hester-Sue: I’ve dealt with the needs of blind children for many years, Mr. Kagan, and I don’t require you to teach me my job.

• deal with = lidar com
• I don’t require you to… = Eu não preciso que você…

—-
Joe: Hey there, young fella! How come you’re not upstairs with everybody else?

• how come…? = por que…?

Timothy: Because I’m not.
Joe: Well, now, there’s a good reason. Don’t you want to say good-bye to me?
Timothy: No.
Joe: Why not?
Timothy: I finally make one friend who understands…
Joe: …Understanding cuts two ways, Timothy. I just can’t stay here with Hester-Sue getting married.

• cuts two ways = vale para todos / funciona nos dois sentidos

Timothy: But I need you.
Joe: I have to make it without Hester-Sue, and you have to make it without me.

• make it = “me virar”, sobreviver

Timothy: I can’t.
Joe: Sure, you can.
Timothy: You just don’t care about letting me down.
Joe: You’re letting yourself down. There are plenty of good reasons for you to like this place.

• let (someone) down = desapontar (alguém), não corresponder às expectativas (de alguém), falhar com (alguém)
• plenty of = suficiente

Timothy: Like what?

• like what? = tipo o que?

Joe: The other children, Mrs. Kendall. I’m going up now to say good-bye. You coming? … Good-bye, son. I’ll miss you.

• go up = subir
• I’ll miss you. = Vou sentir a sua falta. / Vou sentir saudades.

—-
♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪
♪ Over the hills and everywhere ♪
♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪
♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪
♪ Why don’t you? ♪
Timothy: ♪ When I was a sinner ♪
♪ I sinned both nights and day ♪
♪ I asked my Lord to help me ♪
♪ And he showed me the way ♪
Choir: ♪ Why don’t you… Go tell it on the mountain ♪

Mary: If only Hester-Sue could hear this!

• If only… = Se ao menos…

Joe: Yeah. Maybe she should. Sure. Why not? Look, don’t stop singing, anybody. We are going to a wedding.

• We are going to a wedding… = Vamos para um casamento….

[blocknote class=”red” title=”O que significa o phrasal verb ‘get through to somebody'”] Como se diz “get through to somebody” em português? Qual é a tradução de “get through to somebody”? What does “get through to somebody” mean? What is the meaning of “get through to somebody”?

get through to somebody =

• fazer alguém entender a importância de algum assunto importante / “pôr” (colocar) algo importante na cabeça de algúem
• ganhar a confiança de uma pessoa para poder comunicar com ela e ajudá-la
• “conquistar” uma pessoa – convencê-la de que você se importa com ela

[/blocknote]
Other Examples:
Many wives have a hard time getting through to their husbands.
What can I do to get through to my teenage son?
I’m trying to get through to my students and show them how important their education is.
Even though we talked for an hour, I couldn’t get through to her about the problems in our relationship.

[blocknote class=”green” title=”Let’s practice the phrasal verb ‘get through to somebody'”]
TASK 1
Do a google search with any of the following words (with quotes “-“):
“get through to him” ou
“get through to her” ou
“get through to * about” ou
“get through to * that” ou
“get through to teenagers” ou
“get through to children”, etc.
and write any interesting phrase you find in our comments section below.

OR

TASK 2
Is there someone you are trying to get through to? What are you trying to get through to them about? Please write about it below.
You can use one of the following structures:
I’m trying to get through to __(name/person)__ . He/She __(explain emotional problem this person has)____ .
I’m trying to get through to __(name/person)__ about (noun)/that (phrase) ___(important subject)___
[/blocknote]