convoluted passage

[/kənˈvɒl.juː.tɪd ˈpæs.ɪdʒ/]
nounpl: convoluted passages
passagem convoluta
1. A twisting, winding, or intricately twisted corridor, tunnel, or pathway that is difficult to navigate or understand
The ancient castle had many convoluted passages that confused visitors.
O antigo castelo tinha muitas passagens convolutas que confundiam os visitantes.
2. A complex, hard-to-follow section of text, argument, or explanation
The lawyer's convoluted passage of reasoning made the case difficult to follow.
A passagem convoluta de raciocínio do advogado tornou o caso difícil de acompanhar.
The term is commonly used in both Brazilian Portuguese and English to describe both physical architectural features (such as those found in colonial forts or historical buildings) and abstract concepts (such as bureaucratic processes or complex legal arguments). In Brazil, it often appears in descriptions of historical colonial architecture and in critiques of overly complicated government procedures.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
winding corridortwisted pathwaylabyrinthine passagetortuous routecomplex passage
Antonyms / Antônimos
straight passagedirect pathsimple routeclear corridor

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
passagem convoluta
Standard term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
passagem embolada
Colloquial variant emphasizing confusion
São Paulo
passagem complicada
More commonly used in business/formal contexts
Portugal
passagem sinuosa
Preference for 'sinuosa' over 'convoluta' in European Portuguese

Related Words

labyrinthmazecorridortunnelwindingtortuous

Related Idioms & Phrases

lost in the convoluted passages
navigate convoluted passages
a convoluted passage of thought
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