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be mute

[/biː mjuːt/]
verb
ser mudo; ficar mudo; permanecer em silêncio
1. to be unable to speak or to remain silent
He was mute after hearing the shocking news.
Ele ficou mudo depois de ouvir a notícia chocante.
2. to not speak or refuse to speak about something
She remained mute on the subject during the interview.
Ela permaneceu muda sobre o assunto durante a entrevista.
3. to be unable to speak due to a physical condition
The accident left him mute for several months.
O acidente o deixou mudo por vários meses.
NYC Slang
zip it; clam up; button it
Synonyms
be silentstay silenthold one's tonguerefrain from speaking
Antonyms
speaktalkvoicearticulate

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser/ficar mudo
most common usage in Brazilian Portuguese
Portugal
ser/ficar mudo
standard European Portuguese equivalent
General Brazilian
não abrir a boca
colloquial alternative meaning 'not open one's mouth'

Related Idioms & Phrases

remain mute
strike mute
be struck dumb
render mute
keep mum
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