passar pano
Portuguese
editEtymology
editLiterally, “to pass [a] cloth”.
Verb
editpassar pano (first-person singular present passo pano, first-person singular preterite passei pano, past participle passado pano)
- (literally) to rub a cloth (often wet with water or cleaning products) over a surface in order to clean it
- Preciso passar pano nessa parede suja.
- I need to rub a cloth over that dirty wall.
- (figuratively, derogatory, often followed by para) to minimize or downplay someone's misconduct or crimes, to "clean" someone's reputation
- Não passe pano para piadas racistas.
- Don't downplay racist jokes.
Conjugation
edit1Brazilian Portuguese.
2European Portuguese.