start questioning

[/stɑrt ˈkwɛstʃənɪŋ/]
verb phrase
começar a questionar
1. to begin asking questions or expressing doubt about something previously accepted or believed
After the scandal, citizens started questioning the government's transparency.
Após o escândalo, os cidadãos começaram a questionar a transparência do governo.
2. to initiate an inquiry or investigation into something
The detective started questioning the witnesses about what they saw.
O detetive começou a questionar as testemunhas sobre o que viram.
3. to begin to doubt or challenge the validity of beliefs or decisions
She started questioning whether her career choice was right for her.
Ela começou a questionar se sua escolha de carreira era adequada para ela.
In Brazilian culture, 'começar a questionar' reflects a growing emphasis on critical thinking and democratic participation, especially in academic and civic discussions. In the USA, this phrase is commonly used in both formal investigative contexts (law enforcement, journalism) and informal personal development conversations.
NYC Slang
start trippin' / start buggin' (to express doubt or suspicion)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
begin questioningcommence inquirystart doubtingbegin interrogatingstart challenging
Antonyms / Antônimos
accept unconditionallystop questioningcease inquiringtrust implicitly

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
começar a questionar
Most common and standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
começar a questionar / colocar em dúvida
Often used with 'colocar em dúvida' for emphasis
São Paulo
começar a questionar
Standard usage, sometimes 'botar em questão'
Portugal
começar a questionar / pôr em causa
Portuguese prefers 'pôr em causa' in formal contexts

Related Words

interrogatedoubtchallengeinquiryskepticisminvestigate

Related Idioms & Phrases

put something into question
cast doubt on
raise questions about
have second thoughts
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