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roundabout way

[/ˈraʊndəbaʊt weɪ/]
noun phrasepl: roundabout ways
caminho indireto
1. An indirect or circuitous route or method of achieving something; taking a longer path instead of the most direct one
He took a roundabout way to get to the office, avoiding the traffic.
Ele tomou um caminho indireto para chegar ao escritório, evitando o trânsito.
2. An indirect or unnecessarily complicated way of saying or doing something
She explained the concept in a roundabout way that confused everyone.
Ela explicou o conceito de forma indireta que confundiu a todos.
Synonyms
indirect routecircuitous routedetourlong way aroundwinding path
Antonyms
direct waystraight pathshortest routedirect route

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
caminho indireto
Most common translation in Brazil
Brazil
volta e meia
Colloquial expression meaning indirect or complicated way
Portugal
forma indireta
Preferred in Portugal when referring to indirect manner of speaking
General
rodeio
Alternative meaning a detour or unnecessary complications

Related Idioms & Phrases

go around in circles
beat around the bush
take the long way home
come at it from another angle
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