A reputable publication in Brazil had a columnist write about the origin of the sentence here (obviously in Brazilian Portuguese): https://veja.abril.com.br/blo

A reputable publication in Brazil had a columnist write about the origin of the sentence here (obviously in Brazilian Portuguese): https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/augusto-nunes/de-onde-vem-as-palavras-dar-uma-de-joao-sem-braco/ https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/augusto-nunes/de-onde-vem-as-... Apparently, beggars would tie one arm (or both) around their body under clothing, pretending to have been injured in war.