detangle

[/diːˈtæŋɡəl/]
verb
desembaraçar
1. to remove tangles from something; to untangle or undo knots
She used a comb to detangle her wet hair after the shower.
Ela usou um pente para desembaraçar seus cabelos molhados após o banho.
2. to clarify or resolve a confusing or complicated situation
The accountant helped detangle the company's financial records.
O contador ajudou a desembaraçar os registros financeiros da empresa.
3. to separate things that are twisted or intertwined together
We had to detangle the fishing lines that got caught together.
Tivemos que desembaraçar as linhas de pesca que ficaram presas juntas.
The word 'detangle' is commonly used in hair care contexts in both American English and Brazilian Portuguese, with specialized detangling products being widely marketed. In professional contexts, it metaphorically refers to clarifying complex situations, particularly in business and legal settings.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
untangleunraveldisentanglestraighten out
Antonyms / Antônimos
tangleknotentangletwist

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
desembaraçar
most common translation for general use
Rio de Janeiro
desembaraçar
same as general Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
desembaraçar
same as general Brazilian Portuguese
Portugal
desembaraçar
identical to Brazilian usage; also 'desenrascar' in informal contexts

Related Words

tangleknotsnarlcombbrush

Related Idioms & Phrases

detangle a mess
detangle one's thoughts
detangle a web of lies
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →