halted steps

[ˈhɔːltɪd stɛps]
noun phrase
passos interrompidos
1. Steps or footsteps that have been stopped or paused, often indicating hesitation, uncertainty, or a deliberate pause in movement
She took halted steps toward the unknown room, unsure of what awaited her.
Ela deu passos interrompidos em direção ao quarto desconhecido, incerta do que a aguardava.
2. A cessation or interruption of forward motion or progress
The halted steps of the refugees showed their exhaustion and despair.
Os passos interrompidos dos refugiados revelavam seu esgotamento e desespero.
This phrase is frequently used in literary contexts in both Brazilian Portuguese and English to convey emotional states such as fear, uncertainty, or physical exhaustion. It appears often in narrative descriptions of character movement to build tension or empathy in storytelling.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
faltering stepshesitant stepsinterrupted stepspaused stepsstuttering steps
Antonyms / Antônimos
steady stepsconfident stepsbrisk stepscontinuous stepsflowing steps

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
passos interrompidos
Most common usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
passos travados
Alternative colloquial expression emphasizing the stuck or blocked nature of movement
São Paulo
passos hesitantes
Emphasizes the hesitant quality more than interruption
Portugal
passos entrecortados
European Portuguese preference for 'entrecortados' to express interrupted rhythm

Related Words

hesitationpausestumblestaggershufflelimp

Related Idioms & Phrases

take halted steps toward something
move with halted steps
slow and halted steps
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