broken communication

[ˈbroʊkən kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən]
nounpl: broken communications
comunicação quebrada
1. A failure or breakdown in the exchange of information between two or more parties, resulting in misunderstanding, confusion, or lack of understanding
The broken communication between the manager and the team led to missed deadlines.
A comunicação quebrada entre o gerente e a equipe resultou em prazos perdidos.
2. Ineffective or interrupted dialogue where messages are not clearly transmitted or received
Their broken communication made it impossible to resolve the conflict.
A comunicação quebrada deles tornou impossível resolver o conflito.
3. A situation where communication channels are disrupted, unclear, or non-functional
The broken communication during the emergency delayed the response.
A comunicação quebrada durante a emergência atrasou a resposta.
In Brazilian business culture, broken communication is often attributed to hierarchical barriers and lack of feedback mechanisms. In American contexts, it's frequently discussed in terms of individual responsibility and the need for clearer messaging. Both cultures recognize it as a significant problem in workplace relationships and personal interactions.
NYC Slang
communication got all twisted up
Synonyms / Sinônimos
miscommunicationfailed communicationpoor communicationcommunication breakdownlack of communicationcommunication failure
Antonyms / Antônimos
clear communicationeffective communicationopen communicationsuccessful communicationtransparent communication

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
comunicação quebrada
Most common and neutral term used across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
comunicação ruim
Colloquial variation emphasizing poor quality
São Paulo
falha na comunicação
More formal, business-oriented expression
Portugal
comunicação falha
Portuguese preference for 'falha' over 'quebrada'

Related Words

misunderstandingdialogueexchangeconversationdisconnectinterferencebarrier

Related Idioms & Phrases

lost in translation
talking past each other
wires got crossed
not on the same page
signals got mixed up
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