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bodega cat

[/bəˈdeɪɡə kæt/]
nounpl: bodega cats
gato de mercearia
1. A cat that lives in a small grocery store (bodega) or corner shop, typically allowed to roam freely to catch rodents and mice
The bodega cat napped on the shelf behind the counter all afternoon.
O gato da mercearia cochilava na prateleira atrás do balcão o tempo todo.
2. A cat that has become part of the local community and culture of an urban neighborhood
Everyone in the neighborhood knows the bodega cat; it's practically a celebrity.
Todos na vizinhança conhecem o gato da mercearia; é praticamente uma celebridade.
NYC Slang
A fixture of NYC street culture; often appears in social media and urban folklore; considered a neighborhood icon
Synonyms
shop catstore catcorner store cat

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
gato de mercearia
Standard term used across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
gato de venda
Common in informal Rio speech
São Paulo
gato de bodega
Often uses the English loanword 'bodega'
Portugal
gato de mercearia
Standard European Portuguese term

Related Idioms & Phrases

cool as a bodega cat - calm and unflappable
bodega cat energy - relaxed, independent attitude
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