vicious circle
[ˈvɪʃəs ˈsɜrkəl]
nounpl: vicious circles
círculo vicioso
1. A sequence of events in which a problem causes an effect that intensifies the original problem, creating a self-perpetuating cycle with no clear way out
Being unemployed led to depression, which made it harder to find a job, creating a vicious circle.
O desemprego levou à depressão, o que dificultou encontrar um emprego, criando um círculo vicioso.
2. A situation where one undesirable condition causes another, which in turn reinforces the first condition
The vicious circle of poverty and crime is difficult to break.
O círculo vicioso da pobreza e da criminalidade é difícil de quebrar.
3. A logical fallacy where the conclusion is used to support the premise
His argument was a vicious circle: he claimed the book was good because it was written by a good author.
Seu argumento era um círculo vicioso: ele afirmava que o livro era bom porque foi escrito por um bom autor.
The concept of 'círculo vicioso' is widely understood in both Brazilian and American cultures, commonly used in discussions of poverty, unemployment, addiction, and social issues. In Brazil, it frequently appears in political and social discourse. The term emphasizes systemic problems that are difficult to escape without external intervention.
NYC Slang
catch-22 or 'stuck in a loop'
Related Idioms & Phrases
caught in a vicious circle
trapped in a vicious circle
break the vicious circle
a vicious circle of poverty
the vicious circle of debt
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