noun, verb (gerund/present participle)
saque, pilhagem, revistação
1. The act of searching through a place thoroughly and destructively, often in search of something valuable or with intent to steal
The burglars were caught ransacking the jewelry store.
Os ladrões foram pegos saqueando a joalheria.
2. To search a place roughly or violently, turning things upside down
She was ransacking her closet looking for her black dress.
Ela estava revistando seu guarda-roupa procurando seu vestido preto.
3. The act of plundering or pillaging a location, especially in a military context
The soldiers engaged in the ransacking of the village.
Os soldados engajaram-se na pilhagem da aldeia.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'saque' is commonly used in news reports about robberies and theft. The term 'ransacking' appears frequently in crime reports and security contexts in English-speaking countries. In Portugal, 'pilhagem' carries more historical weight, often referring to wartime plundering. The word reflects concerns about property crime and personal safety across both cultures.
NYC Slang
tossing a place, turning it over, ripping off
Related Idioms & Phrases
ransacking someone's brains (procurando na memória de alguém)
ransack and burn (saquear e queimar - historical/literary context)
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