In moments of joy, especially at parties, we let the excitement take over and end up committing some excesses. The next day, still regretting the hangover of the night before, we are warned or we decide by ourselves that we have put our foot in the jackfruit. In this way, we learn that any kind of exaggeration or abusive behavior is associated with this curious expression.
For some, the image of someone literally putting their foot in the jackfruit is enough to associate the strange allegory with the exaggeration situation. However, this is a misinterpretation that denies the true origins of this expression so common today. In fact, the fruit in question here only appeared because of another common mutation process of idiomatic terms.
In the 17th and 18th century, the transport of cargo and goods gained great space with the mining economy. At that time, the drovers performed this distribution service on the back of mules, usually equipped with a large pair of jacás. The jacá was a large indigenous basket (made of vine or bamboo) in which these travelers carried their valuable goods.
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In some situations, the drovers interrupted or ended their trips in a store where they indulged in the pleasure of drinking. After so many sips, it was common for these drovers to experience great embarrassment when climbing on the back of mules. Often, the poor drunk drover ended up sticking his foot in the jacá when it came time to follow his destiny.
Since then, the disuse of this type of basket ended up being parallel to the very transformation of the term. In this story, the poor jackfruit ended up taking the place of the indigenous tool. Despite the change, the exaggeration of the 18th century drovers and the modern “balladeiros” continue to yield good stories.
By Rainer Sousa
Graduated in History
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUSA, Rainer Gonçalves. "Stick your foot in the jackfruit"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/curiosidades/enfiar-pe-na-jaca.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
