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half-heartedly attempt
[/ˌhɑːf ˈhɑːrtɪdli əˈtɛmpt/]
verb phrase
tentar sem entusiasmo
1.
to make a weak or unenthusiastic effort to do something; to try something without full commitment or genuine interest
He half-heartedly attempted to fix the broken chair but gave up after five minutes.
Ele tentou sem entusiasmo consertar a cadeira quebrada, mas desistiu após cinco minutos.
2.
to undertake something in a lukewarm or apathetic manner
She half-heartedly attempted to learn Spanish but never practiced consistently.
Ela tentou sem grande interesse aprender espanhol, mas nunca praticou consistentemente.
NYC Slang
phone it in; go through the motions
Synonyms
make a half effort
try half-heartedly
attempt without conviction
make a lukewarm effort
go through the motions
Antonyms
attempt wholeheartedly
try earnestly
make a genuine effort
attack with vigor
undertake enthusiastically
Regional Variations
General Brazilian
tentar sem entusiasmo; fazer uma tentativa morna
common usage in everyday speech
São Paulo
tentar na morna; fazer de má vontade
informal urban usage
Rio de Janeiro
tentar sem vontade; botar uma meia-boca
colloquial expression
Portugal
tentar sem entusiasmo; fazer a contragosto
more formal usage
Related Idioms & Phrases
half-baked attempt
go through the motions
make a token effort
try with one hand tied behind one's back
do something by halves
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