canção de ninar
1. a soft, gentle song sung to soothe and help a baby or young child fall asleep
The mother sang a lullaby to her newborn baby every night.
A mãe cantava uma canção de ninar para seu bebê recém-nascido todas as noites.
2. any soothing or calming melody or tune
The soft instrumental music acted as a lullaby for the tired workers.
A música instrumental suave funcionou como uma canção de ninar para os trabalhadores cansados.
3. something that soothes or calms anxieties, often falsely reassuring
The government's promises were merely a lullaby to quiet public concerns.
As promessas do governo eram meramente uma canção de ninar para acalmar as preocupações públicas.
In Brazilian culture, lullabies (canções de ninar) are an important part of parenting traditions, often passed down through generations. Famous Brazilian lullabies include 'Boi da Cara Preta' and 'Clair de Lune'. In American culture, lullabies like 'Rock-a-bye Baby' and 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' are iconic. The word can also metaphorically refer to false or deceptive reassurances in both cultures.
Related Idioms & Phrases
sing someone a lullaby - to calm or deceive someone with false assurances
lullaby of Broadway - famous song referencing NYC nightlife, not slang per se
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