broken terms
[/ˈbroʊkən tɜːrmz/]
noun phrase
termos quebrados
1. Interrupted or halting speech; words spoken in a fragmented, discontinuous manner
He spoke in broken terms, struggling to find the right words in English.
Ele falava em termos quebrados, lutando para encontrar as palavras certas em inglês.
2. Incomplete or violated agreements; terms of a contract or deal that have been breached or abandoned
After the broken terms of the contract, both parties decided to renegotiate.
Após os termos quebrados do contrato, ambas as partes decidiram renegociar.
3. Disjointed or incoherent expression of ideas
In her broken terms, she tried to explain the complex theory.
Em seus termos quebrados, ela tentou explicar a teoria complexa.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, 'broken terms' is used when describing non-native speakers or those struggling with a language, though this usage can be considered dated or insensitive in modern discourse. In legal/business settings, it refers to violated contractual obligations and is widely understood in both English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries.
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