false promise

[fɔːls ˈprɒmɪs]
nounpl: false promises
promessa falsa
1. a commitment or assurance made with no intention of keeping it; a pledge that is untrue or will not be fulfilled
The politician's false promises about job creation fooled many voters.
As falsas promessas do político sobre criação de empregos enganaram muitos eleitores.
2. a deceptive statement made to mislead or manipulate someone into believing something that will not happen
He made false promises to get her to trust him.
Ele fez falsas promessas para ganhar a confiança dela.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, false promises are frequently associated with political discourse and advertising. In Brazil, the phrase is commonly used in criticism of politicians during election cycles. In American culture, particularly in NYC, this concept is often expressed through more casual slang like 'cap' (lying) or 'BS' (bullshit). The term carries strong negative connotations in both cultures, implying dishonesty and betrayal of trust.
NYC Slang
BS promise, cap, empty talk
Synonyms / Sinônimos
empty promisebroken promisevain promiseunfulfilled pledgedeceptionlie
Antonyms / Antônimos
genuine promisesincere commitmentkept promisefulfilled pledgehonest assurance

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
promessa falsa
most common and standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
promessa enganosa
alternative form emphasizing deceptive nature
São Paulo
promessa mentirosa
colloquial variant emphasizing the lie aspect
Portugal
promessa falsa
same as Brazilian Portuguese, standard European Portuguese usage

Related Words

deceptionbetrayaldishonestybreachmanipulationunreliable

Related Idioms & Phrases

pie in the sky
promise the moon and stars
talk is cheap
all talk, no action
break one's word
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