English grammar question?

Question

Ok that's an hipotetical question, but I really need your help.

Mario, who is a very agitated person, started working in an office but he couldn't stand the tedium and quit. Now he's unemployed and sad.

In a situation like that, if someone is trying to be encouraging but also a bit ironic, is it correct so say something like:

Come on, Mario, don be sad, you're really a very talented person. But, you know, it's not sat on a chair that you do your best.

I'm in doubt about the "it's not sat on a chair that you do your best".

I translated that from portuguese but I don't know if it makes any sense in english.

How should I say something like that in english?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi, I'd like to thank everybody for your precious help.

Anyway, I'm not sure I expressed myself right so I add some details about my question.

At his job at the office Mario literally had to spent eight hours a day sat (or "sitting" - I'm still not sure about it) on a chair doing some boring work and he just couldn't stand it. He's not that kind of person, I mean, he's a very active guy. It has not do about Mario being lazy or something like that, which he isn't at all. What I'm trying to say is that he would never be happy doing that tedious job and he should look for a different kind of work for himself. I know there's a lot of ways of saying that but it's very important for the sake of the context that I mention the 'chair' and also use the expression 'do your best'.

I'm really happy for getting so many good answers. If there's anything you'd like to add after the details above, please fell free to do it.

Sorry for being so meticulus and thanks again for you kindness.

Answer 1

Your english is very good actually. The rest of your question is really good!

You could say, "...But, you know, it's not sitting on a chair when you do your best."

Hope I helped. : )

Answer 2

Try saying it like this:
Come on, Mario, don't be sad. You're really a very talented person. But you know sitting still is not what you do best!

You don't even need to include "on a chair" but if you want to then say:
Come on, Mario, don't be sad. You're really a very talented person. But you know sitting in a chair is not what you do best!

Answer 3

I think what you are trying to communicate is "You know it is not possible to do your best when you are just sitting around in a chair". Or I might also say, "You were clearly just sitting on your hands at that job, so how can you expect to do your best?" "Sitting on your hands" is an English expression communicating laziness or not putting out effort.

Answer 4

>>>>>But, you know, it's not sat on a chair that you do your best. <<<<

You're right, you don't want to use that sentence at all. It's not gramatically correct by far.

You would want to say "It's not sitting in a chair that you do best".

If you want to use "your best" in there, you'd say: "It's not sitting in a chair in which you do your best".

It's also "don't", not "don", in your previous sentence. (And "hypothetical" instead of "hipo", but that's just being picky!)
You're doing well on your English!

Answer 5

"You do not do your best when sitting on a chair" is probably as good a way of putting it as any in English. It is interesting to see how syntax varies between languages though.

Answer 6

I am Portuguese, and we do have alot of expressions which can't be translated, literally anyway.
To answer your question: You won't get ahead by sitting on your ***"
But that's not a very subtle of saying things, he might be offended, so just say, "move on"

Answer 7

The verb is the problem - it should be infinitive, SIT not SAT.
"You know, it's not 'sit in a chair' that do you best.
"You do your best" - is poor grammar. It is unnecessary and actually redundanct and trite to repeat 'you' in a sentence.

Answer 8

You do not achieve your best sitting on a chair.

Answer 9

It's not sitting in a chair that you do your best."

Answer 10

You could say "You're not cut out for sitting down all day."