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be alert

[/bi əˈlɜːrt/]
verb phrase
estar alerta
1. to be watchful and ready to notice or respond to danger or unexpected situations
You should be alert when walking alone at night.
Você deve estar alerta ao caminhar sozinho à noite.
2. to be mentally aware and attentive; to be on guard
Drivers need to be alert to potential hazards on the road.
Os motoristas precisam estar alertas aos perigos potenciais na estrada.
3. to be conscious and responsive
The patient is alert and responding well to treatment.
O paciente está alerta e respondendo bem ao tratamento.
NYC Slang
stay woke (modern slang equivalent)
Synonyms
be watchfulbe vigilantbe awarebe attentivebe on guard
Antonyms
be carelessbe negligentbe inattentivebe oblivious

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
estar alerta
most common form
Brazil
ficar atento/atenta
alternative form meaning to become or stay alert
Portugal
estar atento/atenta
also widely used in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

keep your eyes peeled
stay on your toes
estar com a guarda alta (Portuguese)
não baixar a guarda (Portuguese)
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