matar a cobra e mostrar o pau

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Portuguese[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Literally, to kill the snake and show the stick.

Verb[edit]

matar a cobra e mostrar o pau (first-person singular present mato a cobra e mostro o pau, first-person singular preterite matei a cobra e mostrei o pau, past participle matado a cobra e mostrado o pau)

  1. (idiomatic) to do something and provide evidence one has done it