in Brazil there's an idiom: " Abraço de Tamanduá "

The idiom “anteater hug” is used to refer to the embrace or greeting of a false person, that is, who wishes evil to the person who greeted them.

This expression arose from the observation of a tactic of attack and defense of the giant anteater, a species of mammal quite common in the Brazilian cerrado region.

The anteater is naturally a disheveled animal, with very little sight and hearing, however, when it feels threatened, it uses its enormous claws to defend itself.

The animal stands up on its hind legs and opens its arms showing its claws, as if to give a "hug". In reality, this is a “deadly hug”, as the anteater's claws are very strong, even capable of killing a jaguar.

From this position, the expression “hug of anteater” began to be used to define the hug that someone receives from a person who does not sympathize or is false.

For example, when two people are in the same environment, but one of them hates the other and will still greet and hug her, it is said that she gave him an “anteater hug”.

  • Shmyt [he/him,any]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Crocodile tears is a pretty similar expression of liberalism with crying over their feast.

    If nothing else I'm now adding an anteater hug encounter or anteatercrocodile to my dnd game.

  • sappho [she/her]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Now I need a word for the kind of hug where you know the person would hate you if they only knew you better, a.k.a. every holiday with the homophobic Protestant side of my family

    • Myaccountgothacked [none/use name]
      ·
      4 years ago

      Oh definitely. They inspired this post. Talking up our beloved anteaters so I went to go find some videos. And I got this from the comment section of one where a Jaguar snuck up on an anteater, but didn’t fuck with it.

      • MagisterSinister [he/him,comrade/them]
        ·
        4 years ago

        If a jaguar doesn't fuck with you, you mean serious business. Jaguars are scary motherfuckers, their bite is so ridiculously strong that they're the only great cat that kills their prey by simply biting through the skull. Imagine cracking skulls all day with your teeth and still saying "nah, not gonna mess with that anteater."