ad-lib question

[/ˈæd lɪb ˈkwɛʃtʃən/]
nounpl: ad-lib questions
pergunta improvisada
1. A question asked spontaneously without prior preparation or planning, often during an interview, presentation, or conversation
The journalist threw an ad-lib question at the politician during the press conference.
A jornalista fez uma pergunta improvisada ao político durante a coletiva de imprensa.
2. An unscripted or extemporaneous question posed during a performance, debate, or public speaking event
The moderator asked an ad-lib question that caught the candidate off guard.
O moderador fez uma pergunta improvisada que pegou o candidato desprevenido.
Ad-lib questions are common in Brazilian television interviews and talk shows, where hosts frequently deviate from prepared scripts to create more dynamic and spontaneous interactions. This practice is valued as a way to test authenticity and catch guests off-guard in both entertainment and political contexts.
NYC Slang
pop quiz question (when used in educational context)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
impromptu questionspontaneous questionextemporaneous questionunscripted questionoff-the-cuff question
Antonyms / Antônimos
prepared questionscripted questionplanned questionpre-written question

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pergunta improvisada
Most common and standard usage
São Paulo
pergunta de improviso
Alternative colloquial form
Rio de Janeiro
pergunta na hora
Informal colloquial variant
Portugal
pergunta improvisada
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; also 'pergunta espontânea'

Related Words

ad-libimprovisationspontaneousextemporaneousunscriptedinterviewinterrogation

Related Idioms & Phrases

ask out of the blue
ask on the spot
throw someone a curveball with a question
put someone on the spot
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