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treacherous terrain

[ˈtrɛtʃərəs təˈreɪn]
noun phrasepl: treacherous terrains
terreno traiçoeiro
1. Land or ground that is dangerous, unstable, or deceptive, presenting hidden hazards or risks to those traversing it
The mountain climbers faced treacherous terrain with loose rocks and steep cliffs.
Os alpinistas enfrentaram um terreno traiçoeiro com rochas soltas e penhascos íngremes.
2. Figuratively, a difficult or hazardous situation that is hard to navigate or predict
The politician must navigate treacherous terrain as he campaigns for re-election.
O político deve navegar por um terreno traiçoeiro enquanto faz campanha para sua reeleição.
Synonyms
dangerous terrainhazardous grounddifficult landscapeperilous landrough terrain
Antonyms
safe terrainlevel groundstable groundeasy terrain

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
terreno traiçoeiro
Standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
terreno perigoso
Often used to emphasize danger over deception
São Paulo
terreno acidentado e perigoso
More formal/technical usage in business contexts
Portugal
terreno traiçoeiro
Standard European Portuguese equivalent

Related Idioms & Phrases

on thin ice
walking a tightrope
rough waters
minefield
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