For you to have an idea, from January 1980 to June 1994 (last month before Real), the Brazilian monetary base expanded
2.303.797.693.883%. That's an average of 518% per year.
On the other hand, from July 1994 until April 2009, almost the same period, the monetary base expanded "only" 1.938%.
That's what actually "saved" Brazil, not a terminology trick.
Source:
http://tinyurl.com/6jdvruqHe uses official data.