picar a mula

Portuguese

Meaning

to leave quickly, to run away

Example

Quando a polícia chegou, todo mundo picou a mula.

When the police arrived, everyone ran away quickly.

Origin

A imagem vem da lida no campo: picar é cravar a espora no animal para fazê-lo andar (esporear), e picar a mula era tocar a montaria para deixar o lugar.

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Fontes: Aulete, Priberam.

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