arbitrary support

[/ˈɑːrbɪtreri səˈpɔːrt/]
nounpl: arbitrary supports
apoio arbitrário
1. Support or backing given based on personal preference, whim, or without rational justification rather than merit or established criteria
The manager's arbitrary support for certain employees created resentment among the team.
O apoio arbitrário do gerente a certos funcionários criou ressentimento entre a equipe.
2. In engineering/construction, a structural support placed at a chosen location without following standard design principles
The architect rejected the arbitrary support structure as it did not follow building codes.
O arquiteto rejeitou a estrutura de apoio arbitrária pois não seguia os códigos de construção.
3. Backing or endorsement given without proper evaluation or due diligence
Investors should avoid arbitrary support of startups without thorough financial analysis.
Os investidores devem evitar apoio arbitrário a startups sem análise financeira completa.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, 'arbitrary support' is often criticized as unethical in professional, educational, and political settings. In Brazil, it's frequently associated with 'coronelismo' (local political favoritism) and 'jogo de cintura' (political maneuvering). The term carries negative connotations in meritocratic institutions and is commonly invoked in discussions about fairness and transparency.
NYC Slang
playing favorites; backing someone just 'cause
Synonyms / Sinônimos
capricious supportwhimsical backingunsupported endorsementdiscretionary supportsubjective backing
Antonyms / Antônimos
justified supportmerit-based supportprincipled backingreasoned endorsementsystematic support

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
apoio arbitrário
Standard formal usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
apoio sem motivo / apoio chapa branca
Colloquial; 'chapa branca' refers to favoritism
São Paulo
apoio arbitrário / apoio corporativista
Used in business contexts
Portugal
apoio arbitrário / apoio sem critério
Formal usage; 'sem critério' emphasizes lack of standards

Related Words

arbitrary decisionnepotismfavoritismdiscretionary powerunfounded endorsement

Related Idioms & Phrases

arbitrary support without merit
support based on whim
backing someone unfairly
nepotistic support
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →