dar cabo

Literally, “to give end”.

dar cabo (first-person singular present dou cabo, first-person singular preterite dei cabo, past participle dado cabo)

1. (transitive, idiomatic, followed by de or em) to put an end to, to destroy, to finish

   Os arrogantes são como os balões: basta uma picadela de sátira ou de dor para dar cabo deles.

   Arrogant people are like balloons: you only need a little bit of satire or pain to finish them.

   • 1938, Graciliano Ramos, “O mundo coberto de pennas [The world covered in feathers]”, in Vidas Seccas [Barren Lives], Rio de Janeiro: Livraria José Olympio Editora, page 174:

     Impossivel dar cabo daquella praga. Estirou os olhos pela campina, achou-se isolado. Sózinho num mundo coberto de pennas, de aves queriam comel-o.

     It was impossible to put an end to that pest. He looked over the plains, found himself isolated. Alone in a world covered in feathers, in birds that sought to eat him.

2. (transitive, idiomatic, followed by de or em) to whack, to waste, to kill

   A gangue deu cabo dele.

   The gang killed him.

3. (transitive, idiomatic, followed by de or em) to annoy, to pester

   Aquele sujeito dá cabo de mim!

   That guy annoys me!