impractical skill

[ɪmˈpræktɪkəl skɪl]
nounpl: impractical skills
habilidade impraticável
1. An ability or competence that is not useful or applicable in real-world situations; a skill that lacks practical utility or functional value
Learning to juggle while riding a unicycle is an impractical skill that won't help you in your career.
Aprender a fazer malabarismo enquanto anda de monociclo é uma habilidade impraticável que não ajudará sua carreira.
2. A talent or capability that is theoretically interesting but difficult to apply or monetize in everyday life
Ancient Latin is considered an impractical skill by most modern employers.
Latim antigo é considerado uma habilidade impraticável pela maioria dos empregadores modernos.
In Brazil, discussing impractical skills often relates to educational debates about practical versus theoretical knowledge. Americans typically use this phrase when criticizing liberal arts education or dismissing hobbies. The concept reflects cultural tensions between pragmatism and intellectualism in both societies.
NYC Slang
a skill that's totally useless, a dead skill, a nothing skill
Synonyms / Sinônimos
useless skillfutile abilitynon-applicable competencetheoretical knowledgeimpractical abilityunworkable skill
Antonyms / Antônimos
practical skilluseful abilityapplicable competencemarketable skillvaluable talent

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
habilidade impraticável
Most common and neutral term used across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
dom imprestável
Colloquial usage emphasizing the uselessness of the skill
São Paulo
capacidade sem utilidade prática
More formal business-oriented expression
Portugal
aptidão pouco prática
Portuguese variation, slightly different phrasing but same meaning

Related Words

practicalityutilityapplicabilityreal-world applicationtransferable skillmarketable skillcompetenceproficiency

Related Idioms & Phrases

all dressed up with nowhere to go
a fish out of water
all brains and no brawn
knowledge is power (but not always practical)
better than nothing (but not by much)
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