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mão de vaca

🇧🇷 Portuguese slang from Brazil

What does “mão de vaca” mean?

stingy, a cheapskate

Example

“Ele nunca paga nada, é mão de vaca.”
He never pays for anything, he's a cheapskate.

Good to know

Literally "cow's hand". Also "pão-duro" (hard bread).

Who you can say it to

With friends, not your boss

💸 Money🙄 Teasing

The textbook way to say it: avarento

Heard in a conversation

Pastel at the Sunday market

Júlia Pode crer. Só que a grana tá curta, hein. Vinte reais pra tudo.
Totally. It's just that money's tight, OK. Twenty reais for everything.
Lucas De boa, eu pago o caldo. Mas nunca mais me chama de mão de vaca!
No worries, I'll pay for the juice. But never call me a cheapskate again!
Júlia Tá, tá. Que rolê top, hein: feira, pastel e sol.
OK, OK. What a great outing: market, pastel and sun.

🪙 How other countries say “stingy, a cheapskate”

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