No te hagas el pato
/noh teh AH-gahs el PAH-toh/
To pretend you don't know something or aren't involved; to play dumb or feign ignorance.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'don't make yourself the duck'.
In reality, it means to 'play dumb' to avoid a responsibility.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Le pedí que me ayudara a limpiar, pero se hizo el pato y siguió viendo la tele.
B2I asked him to help me clean, but he played dumb and kept watching TV.
No te hagas el pato, sé perfectamente que escuchaste lo que te dije.
B2Don't play dumb, I know perfectly well you heard what I said.
Cada vez que hablamos de dinero, mi socio se hace el pato.
B2Every time we talk about money, my business partner feigns ignorance.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase likely comes from observing ducks. When a duck senses danger or wants to avoid something, it can quickly dive underwater. To an observer on the surface, the duck seems to have simply disappeared, ignoring the threat. Someone who 'se hace el pato' is doing the same thing—they're trying to ignore a situation or responsibility by pretending it's not there, just like the duck that dives to escape.
⭐ Usage Tips
Call Someone Out
This is a great phrase to use when you know someone is pretending not to understand or is ignoring you on purpose. It's a direct, informal way to say, 'I see what you're doing!'
It Changes for Who You're Talking About
The phrase changes based on the person. For example: 'Yo me hago el pato' (I play dumb), 'Él se hace el pato' (He plays dumb). You can also say 'hacerse la pata' for a female.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'Pagar el Pato'
Mistake: "Mixing this up with 'pagar el pato', which sounds similar but has a completely different meaning."
Correction: 'Hacerse el pato' means to play dumb. 'Pagar el pato' means to unfairly take the blame for something, to be the scapegoat. The duck has a tough life in Spanish idioms!
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Very common and widely used across the country.
Latin America
Extremely common in many countries like Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Mexico. Other similar expressions exist, like 'hacerse el sueco' or 'hacerse el loco', but 'hacerse el pato' is widely understood.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: No te hagas el pato
Question 1 of 1
If your roommate 'se hace el pato' when you mention the dirty dishes, what are they doing?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'hacerse el pato' a strong or rude accusation?
It's informal and expresses annoyance, but it's not considered a harsh insult. You'd use it with friends, family, or colleagues you know well when you're frustrated that they're avoiding something.
Can I use this phrase for myself?
Yes, you can. For example, you might say, 'Cuando mi jefe preguntó por voluntarios, me hice el pato' (When my boss asked for volunteers, I played dumb). It's a humorous way to admit you were avoiding extra work.