defy approval

[dɪˈfaɪ əˈpruːvəl]
verb phrase
desafiar a aprovação; ir contra a aprovação
1. to act in a way that goes against or rejects someone's approval or acceptance; to refuse to seek or comply with approval
The artist decided to defy approval and created work that was controversial and unconventional.
O artista decidiu desafiar a aprovação e criou trabalhos que eram controversos e pouco convencionais.
2. to openly resist or reject the need for authorization or endorsement from authority figures
She continued to defy approval from her family and pursued her own dreams.
Ela continuou a desafiar a aprovação de sua família e perseguiu seus próprios sonhos.
This phrase reflects the American cultural value of individualism and independence. In Brazilian culture, while family approval is traditionally important, younger generations increasingly use this phrase to express personal autonomy. It's particularly common in discussions about career choices, artistic expression, and lifestyle decisions.
NYC Slang
go rogue; do your own thing; buck the system
Synonyms / Sinônimos
resist approvalreject approvalspurn approvaldisregard approvalignore consent
Antonyms / Antônimos
seek approvalrequest authorizationcomply with approvalconform to expectations

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
desafiar a aprovação
Standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
ir contra a aprovação; desafiar o aval
More colloquial variant used in informal speech
São Paulo
desafiar a aprovação; não buscar aprovação
Formal and business contexts
Portugal
desafiar a aprovação; rejeitar o consentimento
European Portuguese prefers 'rejeitar o consentimento' in formal contexts

Related Words

defyapprovalnonconformistrebellionindependencechallenge authority

Related Idioms & Phrases

go against the grain
march to the beat of one's own drum
go your own way
not give a fig what others think
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