be paralyzed

[bi ˈpærəlaɪzd]
verb phrase
estar paralizado/paralisado
1. to be unable to move or function, either physically or mentally
After the accident, he was paralyzed from the waist down.
Após o acidente, ele estava paralisado da cintura para baixo.
2. to be unable to take action due to fear, shock, or indecision
She was paralyzed by fear when she saw the accident.
Ela estava paralisada de medo quando viu o acidente.
3. to be rendered inactive or unable to function (of systems, services, etc.)
The city was paralyzed by the snowstorm.
A cidade estava paralisada pela nevasca.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'estar paralisado' is commonly used both for physical medical conditions and for figurative expressions of being emotionally or mentally unable to act. The expression is frequently used in news reports about strikes or infrastructure failures. In American English, being 'paralyzed' by fear or indecision is a common psychological descriptor in both casual and formal contexts.
NYC Slang
froze up, locked up, couldn't move
Synonyms / Sinônimos
be immobilizedbe frozenbe incapacitatedbe unable to movebe stuck
Antonyms / Antônimos
be mobilebe activebe capablemove freely

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
estar paralizado/paralisado
Most common usage in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
estar de mãos amarradas
Colloquial expression meaning 'to have hands tied,' used metaphorically for paralysis of action
São Paulo
estar paralisado
Standard usage, particularly in business and news contexts
Portugal
estar paralisado
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; can also use 'estar imobilizado' for physical paralysis

Related Words

paralysisparalyzeparalyticimmobilityincapacityfearfreeze

Related Idioms & Phrases

scared stiff
frozen in time
stuck in one's tracks
mãos amarradas (hands tied)
paralisado de medo (paralyzed with fear)
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