World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesHacerse el muerto
Pronunciation / Transliteration: aθeɾse el ˈmweɾto
"Decidió hacerse el muerto para evitar problemas."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To pretend to be dead or incapacitated as a means of deception.
"When confronted by the predator, the opossum will play possum to avoid being eaten." - 2
To feign ignorance or indifference in a situation.
"He decided to play possum during the argument, hoping it would blow over."
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The term 'play possum' originates from the early 19th century, derived from the American English adaptation of the term 'playing possum,' which refers to the behavior of the opossum animal feigning death as a defense mechanism. The phrase reflects the animal's instinctual behavior and has evolved to describe pretending to be in a state of unawareness or unconsciousness.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Play-Possum"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Play-Possum" is said worldwide
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Faire le mort
Transliteration: fɛʁ lə mɔʁ
"Il a décidé de faire le mort pour éviter les ennuis."
Tot stellen
Transliteration: toːt ˈʃtɛlən
"Er stellte sich tot, um den Ärger zu vermeiden."
Fingere di essere morto
Transliteration: fiŋˈdʒeːre di ˈɛs.se.re ˈmɔr.to
"Ha finto di essere morto per sfuggire ai guai."
Hacerse el muerto
Transliteration: aθeɾse el ˈmweɾto
"Decidió hacerse el muerto para evitar problemas."
Fingir-se de morto
Transliteration: fiŋˈʒiʁ si dʒi ˈmoʁtu
"Ele decidiu fingir-se de morto para escapar da confusão."
मृत होने का नाटक करना
Transliteration: mṛta hone kā nāṭak karnā
"उसने मुसीबत से बचने के लिए मृत होने का नाटक किया।"
装死
Transliteration: zhuāng sǐ
"他决定装死以避免麻烦。"
죽은 척하다
Transliteration: jug-eun cheoghada
"그는 문제를 피하기 위해 죽은 척하기로 했다."
死んだふりをする
Transliteration: shinda furi o suru
"彼はトラブルを避けるために死んだふりをした。"
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