Pagar o pato

Meaning: To take the blame for something you didn't do.

Language: Portuguese

Literally: To pay the duck

Category: Animals

Origin: Portuguese folk expression, origin debated.

More idioms — Animals

• Nu komt de aap uit de mouw — The truth is finally revealed.
• Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy — Not my problem; I'm not getting involved.
• Gdzie raki zimują — To be in serious trouble; to learn a harsh lesson.
• ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा — A laughably tiny amount for something that needs much more.
• बंदर क्या जाने अदरक का स्वाद — An ignorant person can't appreciate something refined.
• The last straw that broke the camel's back — The final small burden that causes a total collapse.

More Portuguese idioms

• Descascar o abacaxi — To solve a very difficult, thorny problem.
• Empurrar com a barriga — To procrastinate; to keep delaying something.
• Matar a cobra e mostrar o pau — To prove you actually did what you claim.
• dar um jeito — Find a creative solution or workaround, often bending rules pragmatically.
• estar com a corda no pescoço — Be in serious financial or personal trouble with no easy escape.
• meter os pés pelas mãos — Make a clumsy mistake or bungle something badly through carelessness.

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