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out-of-control operation

[/aʊt əv kənˈtroʊl ˌɑːpəˈreɪʃən/]
nounpl: out-of-control operations
operação descontrolada
1. A business, military, or organizational activity that is no longer subject to proper management, oversight, or regulation; an operation that has exceeded its intended parameters or authority
The military operation became an out-of-control operation after communication with headquarters was lost.
A operação militar tornou-se uma operação descontrolada após a perda de comunicação com o quartel-general.
2. Any process or activity that functions in an unpredictable, chaotic, or dangerous manner without proper restraint
The startup's spending became an out-of-control operation, depleting the budget within months.
Os gastos da startup tornaram-se uma operação descontrolada, esgotando o orçamento em meses.
NYC Slang
a hot mess operation / a dumpster fire operation
Synonyms
uncontrolled operationrogue operationrunaway operationunsupervised operation
Antonyms
controlled operationregulated operationsupervised operationmanaged operation

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
operação descontrolada
Standard usage in Brazilian Portuguese business and military contexts
São Paulo
operação fora de controle
More formal alternative commonly used in corporate environments
Portugal
operação incontrolável
Portuguese preference for emphasizing the inability to be controlled

Related Idioms & Phrases

to get out of hand
to spiral out of control
to run wild
to break loose
a loose cannon
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