be obscure
[/bɪ əbˈskjʊr/]
verb phrase
ser obscuro; ser confuso; ser vago
1. to be unclear, difficult to understand, or not easily perceived
The meaning of the poem is quite obscure.
O significado do poema é bastante obscuro.
2. to be relatively unknown or not famous
He remained obscure throughout his lifetime.
Ele permaneceu obscuro durante toda a sua vida.
3. to be dark, dim, or not clearly visible
The details of the painting were obscure in the dim light.
Os detalhes da pintura eram obscuros à luz fraca.
The phrase 'be obscure' is used in both American and Brazilian contexts to describe lack of clarity or fame. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'ser confuso' (be confusing) is often preferred in everyday speech when describing unclear meanings, while 'ser obscuro' is more literary or formal. In the USA, this phrase is common in academic and intellectual discussions when describing difficult texts or unknown figures.
NYC Slang
be foggy; be unclear; be sketchy
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