flagrant abuse
[ˈflæɡrənt əˈbjuːs]
noun phrasepl: flagrant abuses
abuso flagrante
1. an open, obvious, and deliberate violation or misuse of power, rights, or resources that is impossible to ignore or deny
The police officer's use of excessive force was a flagrant abuse of authority.
O uso de força excessiva pelo policial foi um abuso flagrante de autoridade.
2. a blatant and serious violation of rules, laws, or standards that shows clear disregard for consequences
The company's flagrant abuse of environmental regulations resulted in a massive fine.
O abuso flagrante das regulamentações ambientais pela empresa resultou em uma multa massiva.
This is primarily a legal and formal phrase used in both Brazilian and American English contexts. In Brazil, it appears frequently in newspaper headlines and legal documents related to corruption, police misconduct, and governmental overreach. In the USA, it's common in legal proceedings, civil rights discussions, and political discourse. The term carries strong negative connotations and implies intentional, unambiguous wrongdoing rather than accidental or minor violations.
Related Idioms & Phrases
a flagrant abuse stares you in the face
flagrant abuse of discretion
in flagrant abuse of the law
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →