não pagar mico
to embarrass oneself
字面意思: not to pay the marmoset
Use this to talk about avoiding cringey moments or making a fool of yourself in social settings.
15秒了解
- Used to describe avoiding embarrassing or awkward social situations.
- Literally means 'not to pay the marmoset' in Brazilian Portuguese.
- Extremely common in casual conversation and social media contexts.
意思
This is the ultimate Brazilian way to say you want to avoid making a fool of yourself. It's about dodging those awkward, cringey moments where everyone is staring and you just want the ground to swallow you whole.
关键例句
3 / 6Practicing a new language
Eu estudo muito para não pagar mico na aula.
I study a lot so I don't embarrass myself in class.
Going to a fancy party
Que roupa eu uso para não pagar mico no casamento?
What clothes should I wear so I don't look ridiculous at the wedding?
A professional presentation
Ele ensaiou a apresentação para não pagar mico na frente do chefe.
He rehearsed the presentation so he wouldn't look foolish in front of the boss.
文化背景
The expression likely stems from a popular children's card game called 'Jogo do Mico' where the goal is to avoid being left with the unmatched monkey card. In Brazilian culture, social image and 'saving face' are important, making this a staple phrase in daily life. It became a massive pop-culture hit in the 90s and has remained a top-tier slang ever since.
The 'Que Mico' Exclamation
If you see a friend trip or say something silly, you can jokingly say 'Que mico!' to tease them lightly.
Know your Audience
While very common, don't use this with your 90-year-old great-grandmother or a judge. Stick to people under 60.
15秒了解
- Used to describe avoiding embarrassing or awkward social situations.
- Literally means 'not to pay the marmoset' in Brazilian Portuguese.
- Extremely common in casual conversation and social media contexts.
What It Means
Não pagar mico means to avoid social embarrassment. The word mico is a small monkey (a marmoset). In Brazil, 'paying' this monkey means you've done something silly. It is that feeling when you trip in public. Or when you say 'thank you' to a vending machine. To não pagar mico is to keep your dignity intact.
How To Use It
You use it just like a regular verb. You can say eu não quero pagar mico (I don't want to embarrass myself). It works for past, present, and future. Use it when you are nervous about a situation. Use it when you are relieved you didn't mess up. It is very common in everyday conversation.
When To Use It
Use it when trying something new. Maybe you are learning to samba. You might say, "I hope I não pague mico on the dance floor." It is perfect for social gatherings. Use it when meeting your partner's parents. Use it when starting a new job. It expresses that universal fear of being the center of a joke.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very formal legal settings. Don't use it in a eulogy or a serious medical consultation. It is a bit too lighthearted for tragic moments. If someone is genuinely grieving, don't talk about 'micos'. Also, in Portugal, they use different expressions. This is a very Brazilian flavor of Portuguese.
Cultural Background
Why a monkey? Some say it comes from an old card game. The 'mico' card was the one you didn't want to be left with. If you held it, you lost. Others think it's about street performers with monkeys. If the monkey didn't perform, the owner looked silly. Either way, the monkey became the symbol of public shame in Brazil.
Common Variations
You will often hear que mico! (how embarrassing!). If the embarrassment is huge, it is a mico preto (black marmoset). If you want to be extra dramatic, say paguei o maior mico da minha vida. This means you just had the most embarrassing moment ever. Brazilians love to exaggerate their social failures for a good laugh later.
使用说明
This is a quintessential Brazilian informal expression. It sits comfortably between 'slang' and 'casual neutral'. Use it freely in social settings, but swap it for 'evitar constrangimentos' in formal writing.
The 'Que Mico' Exclamation
If you see a friend trip or say something silly, you can jokingly say 'Que mico!' to tease them lightly.
Know your Audience
While very common, don't use this with your 90-year-old great-grandmother or a judge. Stick to people under 60.
The 'Mico Preto'
In the card game, the 'Mico Preto' is the worst card. In slang, 'pagar o maior mico' means the ultimate humiliation.
例句
6Eu estudo muito para não pagar mico na aula.
I study a lot so I don't embarrass myself in class.
Shows effort to avoid mistakes in front of others.
Que roupa eu uso para não pagar mico no casamento?
What clothes should I wear so I don't look ridiculous at the wedding?
Refers to the fear of being underdressed or overdressed.
Ele ensaiou a apresentação para não pagar mico na frente do chefe.
He rehearsed the presentation so he wouldn't look foolish in front of the boss.
Even in professional settings, the phrase is used informally among peers.
Amiga, me ajuda a não pagar mico com aquele gatinho!
Friend, help me not to make a fool of myself with that cute guy!
Very common in dating and social advice contexts.
Quase caí da escada, mas me segurei e não paguei mico.
I almost fell down the stairs, but I caught myself and didn't embarrass myself.
Relief after a near-miss physical stumble.
Eu só queria sumir para não pagar mico.
I just wanted to disappear so I wouldn't embarrass myself.
Expressing a strong desire to avoid a cringey situation.
自我测试
Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence.
Eu não quero ___ mico na festa hoje.
The idiom specifically uses the verb 'pagar' (to pay).
Which word completes the expression meaning 'What an embarrassment!'?
Que ___! Eu esqueci o nome dela.
'Que mico!' is the standard exclamation for an embarrassing moment.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality Scale of 'Não Pagar Mico'
Very common among friends and youth.
Paguei o maior mico!
Daily life, family, and coworkers.
Cuidado para não pagar mico.
General media and blogs.
Como não pagar mico em entrevistas.
Avoid in academic or legal writing.
N/A
When to use 'Não Pagar Mico'
Fashion Choices
Checking the dress code.
Public Speaking
Double-checking facts.
Dating
Not having spinach in your teeth.
Foreign Language
Using the right word.
常见问题
10 个问题Yes, mico is a type of small monkey. However, in this context, it has nothing to do with animals or money; it's purely about social shame.
Only if the vibe is relaxed. With close colleagues, you can say não quero pagar mico na reunião, but avoid it in a formal pitch to investors.
Not really. In Portugal, they might say fazer uma figura de urso (to act like a bear). Pagar mico is a classic Brazilianism.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but you could say mandar bem (to do well/nail it) to describe the opposite outcome.
Not at all. It's lighthearted and usually self-deprecating. It's more about being 'cringe' than being offensive.
You would say estou com vergonha. Use pagar mico specifically for the *act* of doing something embarrassing.
Yes! You can say ele pagou o maior mico (he really embarrassed himself). Just be careful not to sound mean.
Absolutely. You can say pagar um mico federal or pagar um micão to describe a massive blunder.
Yes, it's perfect for WhatsApp. You'll often see people texting Que mico kkkk (How embarrassing lol).
Almost always. You 'pay' the mico. You don't 'make' or 'do' it in this specific idiom.
相关表达
passar vergonha
to go through a shameful/embarrassing situation
que mico!
how embarrassing!
ficar vermelho de vergonha
to turn red with shame
enfiar a cabeça no buraco
to hide one's head in a hole (from shame)
评论 (0)
登录后评论免费开始学习语言
免费开始学习