improper motive

[/ɪmˈprɑːpər ˈmoʊtɪv/]
noun phrasepl: improper motives
motivo impróprio
1. An ulterior, dishonest, or unethical reason for doing something that is concealed or not immediately apparent
The court suspected improper motives behind the sudden donation to the charity.
O tribunal suspeitava de motivos impróprios por trás da doação súbita para a caridade.
2. In legal contexts, an intention or purpose that violates rules, regulations, or ethical standards
The contract was voided due to improper motives on the part of one party.
O contrato foi anulado devido a motivos impróprios por parte de uma das partes.
3. A reason for acting that is considered morally wrong, selfish, or against the greater good
She questioned whether his help was given out of genuine kindness or improper motives.
Ela questionava se a ajuda dele era resultado de bondade genuína ou de motivos impróprios.
In Brazil, the concept of 'improper motives' (motivos impróprios) is particularly important in legal and business contexts, where there is significant emphasis on establishing good faith (boa-fé) in contracts and transactions. The expression is frequently used in judicial proceedings and corporate governance. In the United States, this phrase is commonly employed in legal discovery processes and when questioning the authenticity of actions or statements.
NYC Slang
shady angle / under-the-table reason
Synonyms / Sinônimos
ulterior motivehidden agendaselfish intentiondishonest purposenefarious intent
Antonyms / Antônimos
pure motivehonest intentiongood faithgenuine purposealtruistic intent

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
motivo impróprio
Standard usage in legal and formal contexts
Brazil - Informal
intenção malina / más intenções
More colloquial way to express the concept
Portugal
intenção imprópria / motivo indevido
Similar legal usage, with slight variation in terminology
Brazil - Legal
dolo / má-fé
Technical legal terms used in judicial contexts

Related Words

motiveintentionpurposeintegrityethicsdishonestydeception

Related Idioms & Phrases

ulterior motive
have an axe to grind
hidden agenda
play both sides
have something up one's sleeve
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →