poor materials

[/pʊr məˈtɪriəlz/]
noun phrase
materiais de má qualidade
1. Low-quality substances or components used in construction, manufacturing, or crafting that lack durability, strength, or desired properties
The contractor used poor materials, which led to the building's structural problems.
O empreiteiro usou materiais de má qualidade, o que causou problemas estruturais no edifício.
2. Substandard resources or supplies that do not meet expected standards or specifications
Poor materials in the textile factory resulted in defective products.
Materiais de má qualidade na fábrica têxtil resultaram em produtos defeituosos.
3. Inadequate or inferior raw materials used in production
The furniture fell apart because it was made from poor materials.
O móvel caiu aos pedaços porque foi feito com materiais de má qualidade.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, 'poor materials' is commonly used in construction, manufacturing, and consumer goods discussions. In Brazil, there's increased concern about poor materials in informal housing construction (favelas), which is a significant social issue. In the US, the phrase is frequently associated with criticism of cheaply made consumer products and cost-cutting practices.
NYC Slang
cheap/garbage materials; junk materials
Synonyms / Sinônimos
substandard materialsinferior materialslow-quality materialsdefective materialscheap materials
Antonyms / Antônimos
premium materialshigh-quality materialssuperior materialsexcellent materials

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
materiais de má qualidade
Standard formal usage in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
materiais ruim
Common colloquial variation
São Paulo
materiais de baixa qualidade
More formal/technical usage in business contexts
Portugal
materiais de fraca qualidade
European Portuguese spelling variation with 'fraca' instead of 'má'

Related Words

quality controldurabilitycraftsmanshipconstructionmanufacturing standards

Related Idioms & Phrases

penny wise, pound foolish (using poor materials to save money)
cut corners (using poor materials to reduce costs)
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