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being hesitant

[/ˈbiːɪŋ ˈhɛzɪtənt/]
verb phrase / gerund
estar hesitante / ser hesitante
1. showing reluctance or uncertainty; being slow to act or decide
She was being hesitant about accepting the job offer.
Ela estava sendo hesitante em aceitar a oferta de emprego.
2. displaying doubt or indecision in speech or action
He kept being hesitant whenever asked about his plans.
Ele continuava hesitante sempre que perguntavam sobre seus planos.
NYC Slang
being on the fence / being wishy-washy
Synonyms
being uncertainbeing indecisivebeing reluctantbeing tentativebeing doubtfulwavering
Antonyms
being confidentbeing decisivebeing certainbeing resolutebeing boldbeing determined

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
estar hesitante / ser hesitante
most common usage
São Paulo
estar na dúvida / estar incerto
alternative colloquial expressions
Rio de Janeiro
estar com receio / estar inseguro
informal variant
Portugal
estar hesitante / mostrar hesitação
formal European Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

sitting on the fence
in two minds
beating around the bush
dragging one's feet
estar com o pé atrás
não conseguir se decidir
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