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precarious

[/prɪˈkɛriəs/]
adjective
precário
1. not stable, secure, or certain; dependent on chance circumstances
The company's financial situation is precarious.
A situação financeira da empresa é precária.
2. dependent on the will or pleasure of another; held at another's discretion
He held a precarious position in the organization.
Ele ocupava uma posição precária na organização.
3. dangerously unstable or uncertain; likely to fail or collapse
The ladder was in a precarious position on the roof.
A escada estava em uma posição precária no telhado.
NYC Slang
sketchy
Synonyms
unstableuncertaininsecureriskyhazardousuncertainfragileshaky
Antonyms
stablesecurecertainsafereliablesteadyassured

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
precário
standard usage
Rio de Janeiro
precário
common in everyday speech
São Paulo
precário
standard usage in business contexts
Portugal
precário
standard usage, also 'em risco' for precarious situations

Related Idioms & Phrases

on thin ice
hanging by a thread
in hot water
between a rock and a hard place
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