cautious measures

[ˈkɔːʃəs ˈmeʒərz]
noun phrasepl: cautious measures
medidas cautelosas
1. careful and prudent actions taken to avoid risk, danger, or unwanted outcomes
The government implemented cautious measures to control the spread of the disease.
O governo implementou medidas cautelosas para controlar a propagação da doença.
2. preventive steps taken as a precaution before a problem occurs
As a cautious measure, we backed up all our data before the system upgrade.
Como medida cautelosa, fizemos backup de todos os nossos dados antes da atualização do sistema.
3. conservative actions adopted when there is uncertainty or potential risk
The bank took cautious measures regarding new loan approvals during the economic crisis.
O banco adotou medidas cautelosas em relação às novas aprovações de empréstimos durante a crise econômica.
In Brazil, 'medidas cautelosas' is frequently used in government communications, corporate policies, and health-related announcements, particularly regarding risk management. In the USA, 'cautious measures' is common in business, healthcare, and public health contexts, often associated with liability prevention and due diligence. The phrase gained particular prominence in both countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NYC Slang
playing it safe; playing defense
Synonyms / Sinônimos
precautionary measuresprotective measuressafety measuresprudent actionspreventive steps
Antonyms / Antônimos
reckless actionsrisky movescareless stepsnegligent behavior

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
medidas cautelosas
most common and neutral term
Rio de Janeiro
medidas de cuidado
informal alternative commonly used in speech
São Paulo
medidas preventivas
often used interchangeably, emphasizing prevention
Portugal
medidas cautelares
preferred in legal and formal contexts; slightly different nuance

Related Words

cautionprecautionprudencesafeguardvigilancecircumspection

Related Idioms & Phrases

to err on the side of caution
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
better safe than sorry
cover your bases
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