mire

[/maɪr/]
noun/verbpl: mires
pântano, atoleiro, lodo
1. swampy or boggy ground; soft muddy terrain that sucks things down
The car got stuck in the mire after the heavy rain.
O carro ficou preso no pântano após a chuva forte.
2. a difficult, unpleasant, or precarious situation; a mess or predicament
The company is stuck in the mire of legal troubles.
A empresa está atolada nos problemas legais.
3. verb: to cause to become stuck in mire; to involve in difficulty or trouble
Don't let yourself get mired in negativity.
Não se deixe atolado pela negatividade.
In both American and Brazilian English, 'mire' is frequently used metaphorically to describe being trapped in difficult situations—whether financial, legal, or personal. The word carries a sense of helplessness and difficulty in escaping the predicament. In literal contexts, it's less commonly used in modern speech, with 'swamp' being more prevalent.
NYC Slang
stuck in a jam; bogged down
Synonyms / Sinônimos
bogswampmarshmudpredicamentquagmiremess
Antonyms / Antônimos
clarityfirmnesssolid ground

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pântano, atoleiro, lodo
most common usage in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
pântano, charco
regional preference for literal swampy areas
São Paulo
atoleiro, encrenca
often used figuratively for difficult situations
Portugal
pântano, lodaçal, sapal
slightly different terminology for wetlands

Related Words

muddyboggyswampyquagmirepredicamententangle

Related Idioms & Phrases

mired in debt
mired in controversy
stuck in the mire
get bogged down
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