be academic

[/biː əˈkædəmɪk/]

verb phrase

ser apenas teórico

1. to be of only theoretical interest or importance; to be irrelevant or moot because the circumstances have changed

Whether we could have won the game is now academic since we've already lost.

Se poderíamos ter ganho o jogo agora é apenas teórico, já que já perdemos.

2. to be a matter of academic discussion rather than practical application

The debate about the old policy is academic now that it's been replaced.

O debate sobre a política antiga é apenas acadêmico agora que foi substituída.

NYC Slang

be a non-starter

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

ser apenas teórico

common usage in both formal and informal contexts

São Paulo

ser só na teoria

more colloquial variant

Portugal

ser meramente académico

formal usage with European Portuguese spelling

be water under the bridge

be a moot point

be neither here nor there

in theory but not in practice

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