avoid discussion

[əˈvɔɪd dɪˈskʌʃən]
verb phrase
evitar discussão
1. to deliberately refrain from engaging in or having a conversation about a particular topic
He tends to avoid discussion about his past.
Ele tende a evitar discussão sobre seu passado.
2. to prevent or escape from a debate or argument on a specific subject
The politician tried to avoid discussion of the controversial policy.
O político tentou evitar discussão sobre a política controversa.
3. to sidestep or circumvent conversation about something sensitive or uncomfortable
She avoided discussion of the family conflict at dinner.
Ela evitou discussão sobre o conflito familiar durante o jantar.
In Brazilian culture, avoiding discussion is often seen as a way to maintain harmony (jogo de cintura). In American culture, it may be perceived as evasive or confrontation-avoidant. The phrase is commonly used in both professional and personal contexts when someone prefers not to engage with a potentially controversial or uncomfortable topic.
NYC Slang
dodge the convo
Synonyms / Sinônimos
sidestepdodgecircumventevadeskirt aroundsteer clear of
Antonyms / Antônimos
engage in discussionface the issueconfrontaddress

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
evitar discussão
most common and neutral usage
Rio de Janeiro
driblar a conversa
colloquial expression meaning to evade the conversation
São Paulo
fugir da discussão
common informal variant meaning to flee from discussion
Portugal
evitar a discussão
similar to Brazilian Portuguese, slightly more formal phrasing

Related Words

avoidanceevasiondiscussiondebateconversationdodge the subject

Related Idioms & Phrases

beat around the bush
dance around the subject
put on the back burner
let sleeping dogs lie
skirt the issue
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