dako nga kabaw

== Cebuano == === Etymology === From dako (“big; large”) + nga (“already”) + kabaw (“water buffalo; carabao”). The metaphor likens a person to a fully grown carabao—an animal that is physically massive and expected to perform heavy labor—who is instead behaving with the immaturity or playfulness of a calf. === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: da‧ko‧nga‧ka‧baw IPA(key): /ˈdako ŋa ˈkabaw/ === Noun === dako nga kabaw (Badlit spelling ᜇᜃᜓ ᜅ ᜃᜊᜏ᜔) (idiomatic, derogatory) An adult or adolescent who continues to engage in behaviors, hobbies, or antics considered inappropriate for their age or developmental stage. Someone who possesses the physical size of an adult but lacks the corresponding maturity or "clinical" sense of responsibility. ==== Usage notes ==== This is typically used as a stinging rebuke, often delivered by elders or authority figures to shame someone into acting more "functionally." It highlights a perceived "asymmetry" between physical growth and social utility. ==== Synonyms ==== ulitawo/dalaga nga dako (a "big" bachelor/bachelorette) bataot (childlike mind)