Picar a mula

Portuguese

Meaning

To leave quickly / 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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More idioms

Rachar o bicoTo crack up laughing A pulsoby force, against one's will Arregar dos outrosto take advantage of someone, to be a freeloader Botar os bofes pra forato throw up or to be exhausted Fazer o balãoto make a U-turn (in traffic)Dar o lavrato leave quickly, to run away