ask permission

[/æsk pərˈmɪʃən/]
verb phrase
pedir permissão
1. to request formal or informal consent from someone in authority or from another person before doing something
I need to ask permission from my manager before taking a day off.
Preciso pedir permissão ao meu gerente antes de tirar um dia de folga.
2. to politely seek approval or authorization to perform an action
Children should ask permission before entering the teacher's office.
As crianças devem pedir permissão antes de entrar no escritório do professor.
In Brazilian culture, asking permission is generally considered a sign of respect and politeness, particularly in hierarchical contexts such as schools and workplaces. The phrase 'pedir licença' is often used more casually among friends and family, while 'pedir permissão' or 'pedir autorização' is used in formal settings. In the United States, the concept varies by context—in professional environments, asking permission is expected, while among peers it may be less formal.
NYC Slang
get the okay
Synonyms / Sinônimos
seek permissionrequest approvalget clearanceobtain consentrequest authorization
Antonyms / Antônimos
act without permissionignore authorityproceed without approvaldisregard rules

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pedir permissão
standard and widely used across all regions
Rio de Janeiro
pedir licença
colloquial alternative commonly used in casual contexts
São Paulo
pedir autorização
more formal, often used in business and professional settings
Portugal
pedir permissão
same as Brazilian Portuguese; 'pedir licença' also used colloquially

Related Words

permissionauthorizeconsentapprovalpermit

Related Idioms & Phrases

ask for the green light
get someone's blessing
get the thumbs up
ask someone's leave
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