santo do pau oco

Portuguese

Etymology

Literally, “hollow wooden saint”. Originated in Colonial Brazil when smugglers hid gold inside hollow wooden saint statues to evade the Crown's taxes.

Pronunciation

 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈsɐ̃.tu du ˈpaw ˈo.ku/ [ˈsɐ̃.tu du ˈpaʊ̯ ˈo.ku]
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈsɐ̃.to do ˈpaw ˈo.ko/ [ˈsɐ̃.to do ˈpaʊ̯ ˈo.ko]
  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /ˈsɐ̃.tu du ˈpaw ˈo.ku/ [ˈsɐ̃.tu ðu ˈpaw ˈo.ku]

Noun

santo do pau oco m (plural santos do pau oco)

  1. (idiomatic, derogatory) one who acts holier-than-thou (hypocritically or self-righteously)
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