inadvertent aid

[/ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtənt eɪd/]
noun phrasepl: inadvertent aids
ajuda involuntária
1. unintentional assistance or support given to someone, often with undesired consequences or to an unintended recipient
By sharing the security protocol, he provided inadvertent aid to the hackers.
Ao compartilhar o protocolo de segurança, ele forneceu ajuda involuntária aos hackers.
2. help or support offered without awareness of its impact or the true nature of the situation
The company's loose accounting practices gave inadvertent aid to the money launderers.
As práticas contábeis frouxas da empresa forneceram ajuda involuntária aos lavadores de dinheiro.
This term is commonly used in legal, business, and security contexts in both Brazil and the USA to describe situations where support is provided without awareness of consequences. In Brazil, it often appears in corruption and crime-related discussions, while in the USA it's frequently used in cybersecurity and financial regulation contexts.
NYC Slang
accidental hookup (when someone unintentionally helps another person/cause)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
unintentional assistanceaccidental supportunwitting helpunintended aid
Antonyms / Antônimos
deliberate aidintentional helpwillful assistance

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ajuda involuntária
most common term in standard Portuguese
São Paulo
ajuda sem intenção
alternative phrasing in business/legal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
ajuda acidental
colloquial variant
Portugal
auxílio involuntário
more formal in European Portuguese

Related Words

inadvertentassistanceunintentionalunwittingnegligence

Related Idioms & Phrases

give someone a hand (unknowingly)
play into someone's hands
lend a hand without realizing it
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