general response

[/ˈdʒɛnərəl rɪˈspɑːns/]
noun phrasepl: general responses
resposta geral
1. A reply or answer that applies broadly to multiple situations, questions, or people without addressing specific details
The manager gave a general response to the complaints instead of addressing each one individually.
O gerente deu uma resposta geral às reclamações em vez de abordar cada uma individualmente.
2. A response that represents the typical or common reaction of most people in a given situation
The general response to the new policy was positive.
A resposta geral à nova política foi positiva.
3. A non-specific or vague answer that does not provide detailed information
His general response was that everything would be fine, but he provided no specifics.
Sua resposta geral foi que tudo ficaria bem, mas ele não forneceu detalhes.
In Brazilian business culture, a 'resposta geral' is often seen as insufficient and may be viewed negatively in professional contexts where specificity and personalized attention are valued. In American culture, general responses are sometimes used strategically to avoid controversy or commitment.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
broad responseoverall responsecommon responsestandard responsegeneric answer
Antonyms / Antônimos
specific responsedetailed responseparticular answerindividual response

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
resposta geral
most common and standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
resposta geral / resposta genérica
both terms are used interchangeably
São Paulo
resposta geral / resposta abrangente
business and formal contexts prefer 'resposta abrangente'
Portugal
resposta geral / resposta genérica
similar usage to Brazilian Portuguese

Related Words

feedbackreplyanswerreactionresponsegeneralização

Related Idioms & Phrases

a blanket response
a catch-all answer
a one-size-fits-all response
give the party line
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