xeque-mate
1. (noun) The position in chess where a king is under direct attack (in check) and has no legal move to escape capture
The player achieved checkmate in just fifteen moves.
O jogador alcançou xeque-mate em apenas quinze movimentos.
2. (verb) To put an opponent's king in checkmate; to decisively defeat someone
She checkmated her opponent with a brilliant knight move.
Ela deu xeque-mate no adversário com um movimento brilhante de cavalo.
3. (noun, figurative) A situation in which someone is completely defeated or has no way to escape a difficult situation
The evidence was checkmate for the defendant's case.
A evidência foi xeque-mate para o caso do réu.
In both American and Brazilian cultures, 'checkmate' is primarily associated with chess but has become a common figurative expression meaning a decisive end to an argument, negotiation, or conflict. It's frequently used in business, politics, and everyday conversation to indicate a definitive victory or an inescapable situation. The term originates from the Persian phrase 'shāh māt' meaning 'the king is dead.'
NYC Slang
checkmate (used figuratively to mean 'you got me' or 'that's the final move')
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