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be unrefined

[/bi ˌʌnrɪˈfaɪnd/]
verb phrase
ser grosseiro; ser rude; ser inculto
1. to lack refinement, good manners, or cultural sophistication
His behavior at the dinner party was unrefined.
Seu comportamento na festa de jantar foi grosseiro.
2. to be crude, coarse, or lacking polish in manner or speech
She found his language to be unrefined and offensive.
Ela achou sua linguagem grosseira e ofensiva.
3. to lack elegance or sophistication in appearance or taste
The furnishings looked unrefined and poorly chosen.
Os móveis pareciam incultos e mal escolhidos.
NYC Slang
be sketchy; be uncouth
Synonyms
be crudebe coarsebe rudebe impolitebe vulgarbe uncivilizedlack manners
Antonyms
be refinedbe polishedbe sophisticatedbe culturedbe elegantbe gracious

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser grosseiro; ser mal-educado
common usage in everyday speech
Rio de Janeiro
ser sem educação; ser deselegante
informal usage
São Paulo
ser rude; ser inculto
formal and informal contexts
Portugal
ser rústico; ser mal-educado; ser sem requinte
more formal usage; requinte emphasizes lack of refinement

Related Idioms & Phrases

diamond in the rough
rough around the edges
lack polish
need grooming
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