o bicho vai pegar

Portuguese

Etymology

Literally, “the beast will catch”. From the phrase se correr o bicho pega, se ficar o bicho come ("damned if one does and damned if one doesn't", but literally "if you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you".)

Pronunciation

 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /u ˈbi.ʃu ˈvaj peˈɡa(ʁ)/ [u ˈbi.ʃu ˈvaɪ̯ peˈɡa(h)]
    • (São Paulo) IPA(key): /u ˈbi.ʃu ˈvaj peˈɡa(ɾ)/ [u ˈbi.ʃu ˈvaɪ̯ peˈɡa(ɾ)]
    • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA(key): /u ˈbi.ʃu ˈvaj peˈɡa(ʁ)/ [u ˈbi.ʃu ˈvaɪ̯ peˈɡa(χ)]
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /o ˈbi.ʃo ˈvaj peˈɡa(ɻ)/ [o ˈbi.ʃo ˈvaɪ̯ peˈɡa(ɻ)]
 
  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /u ˈbi.ʃu ˈvaj pɨˈɡaɾ/ [u ˈβi.ʃu ˈvaj pɨˈɣaɾ]
    • (Northern Portugal) IPA(key): /u ˈbi.t͡ʃu ˈbaj pɨˈɡaɾ/ [u ˈβi.t͡ʃu ˈβaj pɨˈɣaɾ]
    • (Southern Portugal) IPA(key): /u ˈbi.ʃu ˈvaj pɨˈɡa.ɾi/ [u ˈβi.ʃu ˈvaj pɨˈɣa.ɾi]

Proverb

o bicho vai pegar

  1. (Brazil, slang) things will go wrong if nothing is done
  2. (Brazil, slang) indicates that something dramatic or intense will happen

Synonyms

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