hunt superficially

[hʌnt ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃəli]
verb phrase
caçar superficialmente
1. to search for something in a cursory or careless manner without thorough investigation
He hunted superficially through the documents, missing crucial details.
Ele caçou superficialmente pelos documentos, perdendo detalhes cruciais.
2. to pursue game or prey with minimal effort or attention to proper technique
The hunters hunted superficially and returned empty-handed.
Os caçadores caçaram superficialmente e voltaram de mãos vazias.
3. to look for something hastily without depth or commitment
She hunted superficially for her keys before giving up.
Ela procurou superficialmente suas chaves antes de desistir.
In Brazilian Portuguese, this phrase is often used metaphorically in business and academic contexts to describe inadequate research or effort. The expression emphasizes the lack of dedication and depth, which is culturally important in contexts where thoroughness is valued, such as investigations or academic work.
NYC Slang
half-ass search or brush over
Synonyms / Sinônimos
search hastilyscan carelesslyskim throughglance overbrowse without focus
Antonyms / Antônimos
hunt thoroughlysearch meticulouslyinvestigate deeplyexamine carefully

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
caçar superficialmente
standard usage across Brazil
São Paulo
procurar na superfície
more colloquial alternative
Portugal
caçar superficialmente
same as standard Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
caçar por cima
informal, colloquial variant

Related Words

huntsuperficialsearchpursuecareless

Related Idioms & Phrases

scratch the surface
skin-deep search
quick once-over
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