adjective, nounpl: makeshifts (noun form)
improviso, improvisado, gambiarrado
1. Made or arranged in a makeshift way as a temporary solution; improvised
They built a makeshift shelter out of branches and leaves.
Eles construíram um abrigo improviso com galhos e folhas.
2. A temporary or substitute thing made or used because the real or proper one is not available
We used a book as a makeshift doorstop.
Usamos um livro como um improviso para segurar a porta.
3. Something created urgently to serve a purpose temporarily
The refugees used plastic sheets as a makeshift roof.
Os refugiados usaram plásticos como um teto improvisado.
In Brazilian culture, 'gambiarrada' (the makeshift/improvised solution) is deeply rooted in the national identity, reflecting a cultural tendency toward creativity and flexibility in solving problems with limited resources. Americans similarly use 'makeshift' to describe everyday improvised solutions, but 'jerry-rigged' or regional slang variants are often preferred in casual speech. The concept reflects resourcefulness valued in both cultures.
NYC Slang
jerry-rigged, ghetto-rigged, hood fix
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