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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
be mootbe theoreticalbe irrelevantbe of no practical importance
Antonyms
be relevantbe practicalbe applicablematter

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

Related Idioms & Phrases

be water under the bridge
be a moot point
be neither here nor there
in theory but not in practice
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