accept hearsay

[ak-SEP heers-ay / ək-ˈsept ˈhɪrzɛ]
verb phrase
aceitar boatos; aceitar informações de terceiros
1. to believe or receive information based on what others have said rather than on direct evidence or personal knowledge
The judge warned the jury not to accept hearsay as evidence in the trial.
O juiz advertiu o júri para não aceitar boatos como prova no julgamento.
2. to regard as valid or true secondhand reports or rumors
We shouldn't accept hearsay about the company's financial problems without verified facts.
Não devemos aceitar informações de terceiros sobre os problemas financeiros da empresa sem fatos verificados.
This phrase is particularly important in legal contexts in both Brazil and the USA, where hearsay evidence is generally inadmissible in court. In everyday Brazilian culture, accepting hearsay is often frowned upon as a basis for judgment, reflecting values around verification and direct evidence. The phrase is commonly used in educational and professional settings to discourage relying on unverified information.
NYC Slang
believe the gossip mill; fall for the rumor mill
Synonyms / Sinônimos
believe rumorstake at face valuetrust secondhand accountsaccept unverified reports
Antonyms / Antônimos
reject hearsayverify informationdemand evidenceseek firsthand knowledge

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
aceitar boatos; aceitar fofocas
standard usage in legal and everyday contexts
Rio de Janeiro
aceitar conversa mole; aceitar o que falam por aí
more colloquial phrasing
São Paulo
aceitar informação de boca em boca
emphasis on oral transmission
Portugal
aceitar boatos; aceitar dizer-se que
legal terminology similar to Brazilian Portuguese

Related Words

hearsay evidencerumorgossiptestimonycorroborateverifyauthenticate

Related Idioms & Phrases

take someone's word for it
believe it through the grapevine
accept word of mouth
buy into rumors
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