furada

Furada is a Portuguese noun with two primary senses. In its literal use, furada refers to a hole or opening created by drilling, puncturing, or impact. In colloquial Brazilian Portuguese, furada is also a figurative term for a troublesome, precarious, or ill-advised situation, often implying that someone is caught in a bad deal or risky circumstance. The expression ficar numa furada is commonly used to describe being stuck in such a predicament.

Etymology and usage. The word derives from furar, meaning to bore or puncture. The suffix -ada indicates a result or instance of the action, so furada literally denotes the hole produced by a bore, and then extends to a figurative sense of a trap or troublesome situation. While both senses are understood in many Portuguese-speaking regions, the figurative meaning is particularly common in Brazil and is frequently found in everyday speech and media.

Examples. In the literal sense: “A furada na parede precisa de conserto.” or “Fiz uma furada na madeira para passar o fio.” In the figurative sense: “Essa compra foi uma furada,” meaning it was a bad deal; “Acabei ficando numa furada com aquele aluguel alto,” meaning I got myself into a difficult situation.

Notes. Furada can also appear in phrases like ficar numa furada or cair numa furada, conveying the idea of getting into trouble or a bad deal. Synonyms for the figurative sense include enrascada, aperto, and encrenca.