futile operation
[ˈfjuːtəl ˌɒpəˈreɪʃən]
nounpl: futile operations
operação fútil
1. An action, effort, or procedure that is incapable of producing any useful result; an exercise in futility
Attempting to convince him was a futile operation; his mind was already made up.
Tentar convencê-lo era uma operação fútil; sua mente já estava decidida.
2. In medical or surgical contexts, a procedure undertaken with little or no chance of success or benefit to the patient
The doctors determined that further chemotherapy would be a futile operation at this stage of the disease.
Os médicos determinaram que uma quimioterapia adicional seria uma operação fútil neste estágio da doença.
3. In military or strategic contexts, a tactical or strategic move that has no realistic chance of achieving its objective
The general recognized that the frontal assault was a futile operation against the heavily fortified position.
O general reconheceu que o ataque frontal era uma operação fútil contra a posição fortemente defendida.
This phrase is widely understood in both American English and Brazilian Portuguese medical, military, and general business contexts. In medical ethics discussions in Brazil, 'operação fútil' has become more prominent in debates about end-of-life care and the use of extraordinary measures. In the USA, the concept is central to discussions of medical futility and healthcare resource allocation.
NYC Slang
a dead end operation / a no-go situation
Related Idioms & Phrases
beating a dead horse
barking up the wrong tree
pouring water into a sieve
spitting into the wind
tirar água do poço com peneira
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