contain anger

[kənˈteɪn ˈæŋɡər]
verb phrase
conter a raiva
1. to keep anger under control; to suppress or restrain angry feelings
She struggled to contain her anger during the meeting.
Ela lutou para conter sua raiva durante a reunião.
2. to prevent anger from being expressed or shown outwardly
He could barely contain his anger when he heard the news.
Ele mal conseguia conter sua raiva quando ouviu a notícia.
In both Brazilian and American cultures, the ability to contain anger is generally valued as a sign of maturity and self-control. In professional and formal settings, containing anger is considered essential for maintaining respect and authority. The phrase reflects cultural emphasis on emotional regulation across English and Portuguese-speaking contexts.
NYC Slang
keep it together; don't blow
Synonyms / Sinônimos
suppress angerrestrain angercontrol angerhold back angerkeep anger in check
Antonyms / Antônimos
express angervent angerlose one's temperlet anger out

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
conter a raiva
most common expression across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
segurar a raiva
colloquial variant, more informal
São Paulo
controlar a raiva
equally used, slightly more formal
Portugal
conter a cólera
Portuguese uses 'cólera' more formally; 'raiva' also acceptable

Related Words

emotion controlself-restraintcomposuretemperamentragefrustration

Related Idioms & Phrases

bite one's tongue
keep a lid on it
hold one's horses
não explodir
manter a compostura
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