abraço de tamanduá

Portuguese

Etymology

Literally, “anteater hug”. From the giant anteater's deadly defensive move, standing on his hindlimbs and embracing the predator with its claws.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /aˈbɾa.su d͡ʒi ta.mɐ̃.duˈa/ [aˈbɾa.su d͡ʒi ta.mɐ̃.dʊˈa], (faster pronunciation) /aˈbɾa.su d͡ʒi ta.mɐ̃ˈdwa/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /aˈbɾa.su d͡ʒi ta.mɐ̃.duˈa/ [aˈbɾa.su d͡ʒi ta.mɐ̃.dʊˈa], (faster pronunciation) /aˈbɾa.su d͡ʒi ta.mɐ̃ˈdwa/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /aˈbɾa.so de ta.mɐ̃.duˈa/ [aˈbɾa.so de ta.mɐ̃.dʊˈa], (faster pronunciation) /aˈbɾa.so de ta.mɐ̃ˈdwa/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ɐˈbɾa.su dɨ tɐ.mɐ̃ˈdwa/ [ɐˈβɾa.su ðɨ tɐ.mɐ̃ˈdwa]

Noun

abraço de tamanduá m (plural abraços de tamanduá)

1. (Brazil, figurative) betrayal, disloyalty

References

• “abraço”, in iDicionário Aulete (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2024
• “abraço”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2024