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)]

• (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]

• (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

• a jiripoca vai piar

Related terms

• o bicho pegou, o bicho pega