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be well-behaved

[/biː wɛl bɪˈheɪvd/]
verb phrase
comportar-se bem
1. to conduct oneself in a polite, respectful, and socially acceptable manner
The children were asked to be well-behaved during the ceremony.
Pediram às crianças que se comportassem bem durante a cerimônia.
2. to act in accordance with rules or expectations; to follow proper etiquette
She knew she had to be well-behaved at her grandmother's house.
Ela sabia que tinha que se comportar bem na casa da avó.
Synonyms
behave oneselfconduct oneself properlymind one's mannersact appropriatelybe on one's best behavior
Antonyms
misbehavebe ill-behavedact outbe disruptivebehave badly

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
se comportar bem
most common usage in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
se comportar direitinho
informal, diminutive form commonly used colloquially
São Paulo
se comportar bem
standard usage
Portugal
comportar-se bem
standard European Portuguese; uses hyphenated reflexive form

Related Idioms & Phrases

be on one's best behavior
mind one's p's and q's
stay on the straight and narrow
toe the line
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