faltering steps
[/ˈfɔːltərɪŋ stɛps/]
noun phrase
passos vacilantes
1. unsteady, hesitant movements forward; steps taken with uncertainty or lack of confidence
The elderly man took faltering steps toward the door.
O homem idoso dava passos vacilantes em direção à porta.
2. tentative progress or advancement marked by uncertainty and doubt
The company made faltering steps toward recovery after the crisis.
A empresa fez passos vacilantes em direção à recuperação após a crise.
3. physically weak or unsteady movement, often due to age, illness, or exhaustion
With faltering steps, she climbed the stairs.
Com passos vacilantes, ela subiu as escadas.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'passos vacilantes' is commonly used in both literal physical contexts (describing elderly or infirm people) and metaphorical contexts (describing tentative economic or political progress). In American English, this phrase often carries connotations of vulnerability or the need for support, frequently appearing in medical, literary, and motivational contexts.
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