impersonating

[/ɪmˈpɜːrsəneɪtɪŋ/]
verb (present participle)
fingindo ser, imitando, personificando
1. pretending to be someone else, especially to deceive or entertain
He was arrested for impersonating a police officer.
Ele foi preso por se passar por policial.
2. imitating or mimicking someone's appearance, voice, or mannerisms
The comedian is impersonating the president on stage.
O comediante está imitando o presidente no palco.
3. representing or embodying a particular character or quality
She is impersonating confidence in her presentation.
Ela está personificando confiança em sua apresentação.
In the USA, impersonating law enforcement or government officials is a serious federal crime. In Brazil, 'fingindo ser' is commonly used in casual contexts for entertainment or comedy. The term 'personificação' in Portuguese literature often refers to a literary device of embodying abstract concepts as characters.
NYC Slang
catfishing (in modern internet context), fronting (pretending to be someone)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
mimickingimitatingimpersonationmasqueradingpretendingemulatingportraying
Antonyms / Antônimos
being oneselfauthenticatingrevealing true identity

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
fingindo ser, imitando
Most common usage in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
se passando por, fingindo
Colloquial variant commonly used in conversation
São Paulo
imitando, personificando
More formal or entertainment-related contexts
Portugal
personificando, fingindo-se de
Portuguese variant with slightly different phrasing

Related Words

impersonateimpersonatorimpersonationdisguisemimicfraudimpostor

Related Idioms & Phrases

impersonating an officer - crime of pretending to be law enforcement
impersonating someone for laughs - doing a humorous imitation
caught red-handed impersonating - discovered while pretending to be someone else
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