4 ms·
This is strange. I was curious about the meaning of “pretending to be armless John” so I googled it. There is only result for the use of that phrase: Your po
by gspleen 8y ago
This is strange. I was curious about the meaning of “pretending to be armless John” so I googled it.
There is only result for the use of that phrase:
Your post.
So what's your fun example situation for us of someone “pretending to be armless John”?
https://www.google.com/search?q=%E2%80%9Cpretending+to+be+armless+John%E2%80%9D&oq=%E2%80%9Cpretending+to+be+armless+John%E2%80%9D&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 https://www.google.com/search?q=%E2%80%9Cpretending+to+be+ar...
- soneca 8y agoAct as someone who does not understand a situation in order to not do something or not face the consequences. An explanation I read is a reference to mutilated men being dismissed from going to war https://www.dicionariopopular.com/dar-uma-de-joao-sem-braco/ https://www.dicionariopopular.com/dar-uma-de-joao-sem-braco/ ( A Google translator might help)
- reubenmorais 8y agoJoão-sem-braço (literally, John-without-arms) is someone who feigns ignorance, pretends they're not aware of something to avoid doing something unpleasant or for personal gains.
- gota 8y agoA reputable publication in Brazil had a columnist write about the origin of the sentence here (obviously in Brazilian Portuguese): https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/augusto-nunes/de-onde-vem-as-palavras-dar-uma-de-joao-sem-braco/ https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/augusto-nunes/de-onde-vem-as-... Apparently, beggars would tie one arm (or both) around their body under clothing, pretending to have been injured in war.