cambalhotas
[kam.ba.ʎo.tas]
nounfemininepl: cambalhotas
somersaults, cartwheels, tumbles
1. A gymnastic movement in which a person rolls forward or backward in a complete revolution, with hands and feet leaving the ground
The child did several somersaults on the grass.
A criança fez várias cambalhotas na grama.
2. A sudden, chaotic movement or fall; a tumble
He took a tumble down the stairs.
Ele levou uma cambalhota ao descer as escadas.
3. Figuratively, a sudden change of direction or unexpected turn of events
The stock market took a tumble after the announcement.
O mercado de ações levou uma cambalhota após o anúncio.
In Brazil, 'cambalhotas' are commonly associated with street performances, capoeira, gymnastics, and children's play. The term is playfully used both literally for acrobatic movements and figuratively to describe unexpected reversals of fortune or sudden failures in business and politics.
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