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feigned effort

[/feɪnd ˈɛfərt/]
noun phrasepl: feigned efforts
esforço fingido
1. An effort or attempt that is pretended or fake, made to appear as if one is trying when one is not genuinely committed
His feigned effort to help was obvious to everyone in the room.
Seu esforço fingido para ajudar era óbvio para todos na sala.
2. A display of labor or energy that lacks sincerity or true intention
She made a feigned effort at organizing the event, but her heart wasn't in it.
Ela fez um esforço fingido para organizar o evento, mas seu coração não estava nisso.
NYC Slang
half-ass effort
Synonyms
pretended effortfake attempthalf-hearted tryfalse effortsham attempt
Antonyms
genuine effortsincere attemptwholehearted effortreal commitment

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
esforço fingido
Standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
esforço de fachada
Common colloquial variant emphasizing superficiality
São Paulo
esforço de mentirinha
Informal variant used in casual speech
Portugal
esforço fingido
Standard usage, occasionally 'esforço de faz-de-conta'

Related Idioms & Phrases

go through the motions
put on a show
play-act
wear a false face
throw in the towel (insincerely)
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