civilian clothes
[sɪˈvɪl.jən klōðz]
noun
roupas civis
1. Ordinary street clothes worn by non-military personnel, or worn by military/police personnel when off-duty instead of their uniform
The soldier changed into civilian clothes after leaving the base.
O soldado trocou suas roupas civis depois de sair da base.
2. Regular everyday clothing as opposed to a uniform, costume, or specialized attire
The police officer wore civilian clothes while working undercover.
O policial usava roupas civis enquanto trabalhava encoberto.
The term is commonly used in both Brazilian and American military, law enforcement, and security contexts. In Brazil, 'paisano' (civilian) is frequently used colloquially in military circles. The concept is particularly relevant in discussions of undercover police work or soldiers on leave. In the USA, 'civvies' is a popular informal abbreviation among military personnel.
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