ah-SER-seh el CHAN-choh REN-goh
Literally, this means 'to make oneself the lame pig'.
In practice, it means to play dumb to get out of doing something.
Le pedí que me ayudara con las cajas, pero se hizo el chancho rengo y siguió mirando su teléfono.
B2I asked him to help me with the boxes, but he played dumb and kept looking at his phone.
No te hagas el chancho rengo, sé perfectamente que escuchaste cuando te llamé para lavar los platos.
B2Don't play dumb, I know perfectly well you heard me when I called you to wash the dishes.
This colorful expression comes from rural life. In the past, a farmer wouldn't choose a lame or sick pig ('un chancho rengo') for hard work or for market. The story goes that a clever pig might fake a limp to avoid an unpleasant fate. So, 'making yourself the lame pig' became a metaphor for pretending to be incapable to get out of an undesirable task.
Use this when you're pretty sure someone is faking it. It’s perfect for calling out a friend or family member who is obviously ignoring a request for help. It has a slightly accusatory but very informal and common tone.
The key verb here is 'hacerse' (to make oneself). This emphasizes that the action is a deliberate pretense. The person is actively playing the part of the 'lame pig', not genuinely unaware.
Mistake: “Using this phrase for someone who genuinely doesn't know something or is truly unable to help.”
Correction: This idiom is only for when you suspect someone is pretending. If someone is truly ignorant, you would simply say 'no sabe' (he/she doesn't know) or 'no puede' (he/she can't).
Extremely common and widely used in everyday conversation.
Very common and instantly recognizable.
Also used and well understood.
Not used. A speaker from Spain would likely not understand this idiom. They might use 'hacerse el sueco' or 'hacerse el loco' to convey a similar meaning.
Question 1 of 1
If your friend says 'Mi hermano se hizo el chancho rengo', what did his brother do?
Want to sound more natural when using this idiom? Practice your Spanish pronunciation with our collection of tongue twisters.
Browse Spanish Tongue Twisters →Idioms make sense in context. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see idioms used naturally by characters — and build the ear native speakers have.
Yes, in many parts of Latin America (especially South America), 'chancho' is the most common informal word for pig, used like 'cerdo' or 'puerco'. It's perfectly natural in this idiom.
It's best to avoid it. This is a very informal, colloquial expression used with friends, family, or in casual situations. In a professional context, you would use more direct language like 'ignoró mi solicitud' (he ignored my request).
