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elusive

[ɪˈluːsɪv]
adjective
elusivo
1. difficult to find, catch, or achieve; tending to evade or escape
The elusive criminal evaded police for months.
O criminoso elusivo fugiu da polícia por meses.
2. hard to define or describe; vague or ambiguous
The elusive meaning of the poem puzzled many readers.
O significado elusivo do poema desconcertou muitos leitores.
3. tending to escape the memory or understanding
The elusive dream vanished the moment he woke up.
O sonho elusivo desapareceu no momento em que acordou.
NYC Slang
slippery
Synonyms
evasivefugitiveslipperyindefinablevagueintangible
Antonyms
obviousapparentcleardefinitetangibleeasy to find

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
elusivo
standard usage
Brazil
esquivo
alternative less common term
Portugal
elusivo
standard usage, also used as 'ilusório' in some contexts

Related Idioms & Phrases

like trying to catch smoke
hard to pin down
always one step ahead
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