Em Cima da Hora: Say Something Is at the Last Minute
Em cima da hora means at the last minute or just in time. See how it describes arriving, deciding, and making a change close to a deadline.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
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.
Use em cima da hora for something close to a deadline
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.
Cheguei em cima da hora para a entrevista.
I arrived just in time for the interview.
Ela avisou em cima da hora que não poderia ir.
She let us know at the last minute that she couldn’t go.
A gente decidiu de última hora assistir ao filme.
We decided at the last minute to watch the movie.
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.
O voo sai às seis; estamos chegando em cima da hora.
The flight leaves at six; we’re arriving just in time.
Daqui a pouco vou buscar minha irmã.
I’m going to pick up my sister in a little while.
Não deixe para resolver isso em cima da hora.
Don’t leave this to the last minute.
Put it into practice
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.’
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I’m going to pick up my sister in a little while”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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