obscuring passage

[/əbˈskjʊərɪŋ ˈpæsɪdʒ/]
nounpl: obscuring passages
passagem obscura; trecho obscurecido
1. A section of text, route, or space that is intentionally or unintentionally made unclear, hidden, or difficult to understand or traverse
The obscuring passage in the legal document made it difficult for the client to understand their rights.
A passagem obscura no documento legal tornou difícil para o cliente compreender seus direitos.
2. A literal narrow pathway or corridor that is blocked, darkened, or has limited visibility
The obscuring passage between the buildings required a flashlight to navigate safely.
A passagem obscura entre os edifícios exigia uma lanterna para navegar com segurança.
3. Figuratively, a confusing or unclear section in writing, speech, or communication that obscures the intended meaning
Critics pointed out the obscuring passage that seemed designed to hide the company's financial troubles.
Críticos apontaram a passagem obscura que parecia destinada a esconder os problemas financeiros da empresa.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, 'obscuring passage' is commonly used in legal, literary, and communication discussions to criticize unclear writing or deliberate obfuscation. In Brazil, the phrase is particularly relevant when discussing bureaucratic documentation, which is often criticized for being deliberately opaque. In the USA, it frequently appears in political and corporate discourse contexts.
NYC Slang
murky passage; shady text
Synonyms / Sinônimos
unclear passagehidden passagemurky sectioncryptic passageconfusing section
Antonyms / Antônimos
clear passagetransparent sectionlucid passageopen passageilluminated passage

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
passagem obscura; trecho obscurecido
Standard usage in formal and informal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
passagem fechada; beco escuro
More colloquial, emphasizing physical darkness or obstruction
São Paulo
passagem nebulosa; texto confuso
More common in legal and technical documents
Portugal
passagem obscura; trecho confuso
Similar to Brazilian usage with slight vocabulary variations

Related Words

obfuscationambiguityconcealmentobscurityopacityvagueness

Related Idioms & Phrases

read between the lines
lost in translation
speaking in riddles
beating around the bush
muddying the waters
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →