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be opportunistic

[/bi ˌɑːpərˈtuːnɪstɪk/]
verb phrase
ser oportunista
1. to take advantage of opportunities or circumstances in a way that may be considered selfish or unprincipled
He tends to be opportunistic when it comes to business deals.
Ele tende a ser oportunista quando se trata de negócios.
2. to exploit situations for personal gain without regard for ethics or morality
The politician was criticized for being opportunistic during the crisis.
O político foi criticado por ser oportunista durante a crise.
3. in biology, to exploit available resources or habitats without specialization
The bacteria are opportunistic pathogens that thrive in weakened immune systems.
As bactérias são patógenos oportunistas que proliferam em sistemas imunológicos enfraquecidos.
NYC Slang
play the angles / hustle
Synonyms
take advantageexploitcapitalize onprey on
Antonyms
be principledbe ethicalbe scrupulous

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser oportunista
Most common usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
ser malandreiro / ser oportunista
May use colloquial 'malandreiro' to convey cunning advantage-taking
São Paulo
ser oportunista
Standard usage in business and formal contexts
Portugal
ser oportunista
Standard European Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

strike while the iron is hot
make hay while the sun shines
aproveitar a brecha
tirar vantagem da situação
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