boi de piranha

Portuguese

Etymology

Compound of boi +‎ de +‎ piranha. Literally, “piranha ox”.

Pronunciation

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈboj d͡ʒi piˈɾɐ̃.ɲɐ/ [ˈboɪ̯ d͡ʒi piˈɾɐ̃.j̃ɐ]
- (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈboj de piˈɾɐ.ɲa/ [ˈboɪ̯ de piˈɾɐ.ɲa]

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈboj dɨ piˈɾɐ.ɲɐ/ [ˈboj ðɨ piˈɾɐ.ɲɐ]
- (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈboj dɨ piˈɾa.ɲɐ/ [ˈboj ðɨ piˈɾa.ɲɐ]

Noun

boi de piranha m (plural bois de piranha)

(figurative) sacrificial lamb (a person who is sacrificed (not literally) for the greater good of some cause)

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