meh AH-go el BOH-boh ee KOH-moh deh TOH-doh
Literally, this means 'I make myself the fool and I eat everything'.
It means playing dumb to avoid trouble while still getting what you want.
En las reuniones familiares, cuando empiezan a discutir de política, yo me hago el bobo y como de todo.
C1At family gatherings, when they start arguing about politics, I just play dumb and enjoy all the food.
Él sabe que hay problemas en la oficina, pero se hace el bobo y como de todo para no involucrarse.
C1He knows there are problems at the office, but he plays dumb and looks the other way so he doesn't have to get involved.
While there's no single documented origin, this idiom perfectly captures a folk wisdom character: the 'wise fool'. In many stories, the simpleton or 'bobo' is the one who, by not getting tangled in complex arguments or schemes, ends up happy and well-fed. This phrase paints a vivid picture of someone choosing that path—by appearing simple, they avoid the 'drama' and get to enjoy life's simple pleasures, represented by 'eating everything'.
Use this phrase to describe a conscious decision to ignore a complicated or tense situation for your own benefit or peace of mind. It's perfect for situations like awkward family dinners, office politics, or any scenario where getting involved would only cause you trouble.
This phrase is almost always used to describe your own strategy ('Me hago el bobo...') or someone else's ('Se hace el bobo...'). It’s a statement about a person's deliberate choice to disengage.
Mistake: “Thinking the 'y como de todo' part is always about literally eating.”
Correction: While it can be literal (like ignoring an argument at dinner), the 'y como de todo' part often means 'and I enjoy all the benefits' or 'and I get by just fine'. The food is a metaphor for enjoying the good parts of a situation while ignoring the bad.
Very common and widely understood. It's a classic phrase.
Understood in many places, but its usage can be less frequent. Some countries might have local equivalents like 'hacerse el loco' or 'hacerse el sueco', which capture the 'playing dumb' part but might miss the 'and benefiting' nuance.
Question 1 of 1
If your friend says, 'En las cenas de Navidad, me hago el bobo y como de todo,' what do they mean?
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No, quite the opposite! It implies a clever, conscious decision to *act* simple or unaware to avoid a problem. It's a strategic move, not a reflection of one's actual intelligence.
