pão e circo

Portuguese

Etymology

Calque of Latin panem et circenses. See bread and circuses for more.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈpɐ̃w̃ i ˈsiʁ.ku/ [ˈpɐ̃ʊ̯̃ i ˈsih.ku]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈpɐ̃w̃ i ˈsiʁ.ku/ [ˈpɐ̃ʊ̯̃ i ˈsih.ku]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ˈpɐ̃w̃ i ˈsiɾ.ku/ [ˈpɐ̃ʊ̯̃ i ˈsiɾ.ku]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈpɐ̃w̃ i ˈsiʁ.ku/ [ˈpɐ̃ʊ̯̃ i ˈsiχ.ku]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈpɐ̃w̃ e ˈsiɻ.ko/ [ˈpɐ̃ʊ̯̃ e ˈsiɻ.ko]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈpɐ̃w̃ i ˈsiɾ.ku/

Noun

pão e circo m (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) bread and circuses (food and entertainment provided by the state, particularly if intended to placate the people)
2. (by extension) bread and circuses (grand spectacles provided by the state to distract and pacify people)