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lower expectations

[LOH-er ik-SPEK-tay-shunz]
verb phrase
reduzir expectativas
1. To reduce or diminish one's hopes or anticipated outcomes for something or someone
After the first quarter results, the company decided to lower expectations for the year.
Após os resultados do primeiro trimestre, a empresa decidiu reduzir expectativas para o ano.
2. To adjust one's standards downward in anticipation of lesser performance or results
We had to lower expectations when we realized the budget was cut in half.
Tivemos que reduzir nossas expectativas quando percebemos que o orçamento foi cortado pela metade.
NYC Slang
pump the brakes on your hopes / dial it back
Synonyms
reduce expectationsscale back hopesadjust expectations downwardtemper expectations
Antonyms
raise expectationsincrease expectationselevate hopesbuild up anticipation

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
reduzir expectativas / baixar expectativas
Both forms are commonly used in Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
reduzir expectativas
More formal usage in business contexts
Portugal
reduzir expectativas / diminuir expectativas
Both expressions are standard in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

lower the bar
manage expectations
set the bar lower
don't get your hopes up
keep your expectations realistic
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