be distant

[/bi ˈdɪstənt/]
verb phrase
ser distante; manter distância; afastar-se
1. to maintain emotional or physical distance from someone; to act in a cold or aloof manner
She has been distant towards him since their argument.
Ela tem sido distante com ele desde a discussão deles.
2. to be located far away in space or time
The mountains are distant from the coast.
As montanhas ficam distantes da costa.
3. to be emotionally unavailable or reserved in a relationship
He became distant after the bad news.
Ele ficou distante depois da má notícia.
In Brazilian culture, being 'distant' (distante) is often seen as a negative trait, as Brazilians generally value warmth and interpersonal connection. The phrase is commonly used to describe relationship troubles or interpersonal conflicts. In the USA, being distant can sometimes be associated with professionalism or personal boundaries, though it can also indicate emotional problems in relationships.
NYC Slang
give someone the cold shoulder; act standoffish
Synonyms / Sinônimos
be aloofbe remotebe coldbe standoffishkeep one's distancebe reserved
Antonyms / Antônimos
be closebe warmbe affectionatebe friendlybe near

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser distante; manter distância
most common usage in everyday speech
Rio de Janeiro
ser meio frio; ficar de lado
more colloquial, informal expressions
São Paulo
ser distante; manter distância; se afastar
standard formal usage
Portugal
ser distante; manter-se afastado
similar usage but with slightly different verb conjugations

Related Words

distantdistancealoofdetachedreservedcoldness

Related Idioms & Phrases

keep someone at arm's length
give the cold shoulder
put distance between
be on the outs with someone
act like a stranger
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