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make a feeble attempt

[/meɪk ə ˈfiːbəl əˈtɛmpt/]
verb phrase
fazer uma tentativa fraca
1. to try to do something in a weak, half-hearted, or ineffective manner; to make an effort that lacks strength, conviction, or commitment
He made a feeble attempt to lift the heavy box, but quickly gave up.
Ele fez uma tentativa fraca de levantar a caixa pesada, mas rapidamente desistiu.
2. to try something without sufficient effort, resources, or determination to succeed
The team made only a feeble attempt to defend their title in the championship.
O time fez apenas uma tentativa fraca de defender seu título no campeonato.
NYC Slang
go through the motions
Synonyms
make a weak attemptmake a half-hearted attemptmake a faint efforttry weaklylack conviction in trying
Antonyms
make a strong attemptmake a valiant effortmake a determined attempttry hardgive one's all

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
fazer uma tentativa fraca
standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
dar uma tentada fraca
colloquial variant using 'tentada'
São Paulo
fazer uma tentativa morna
alternative using 'morna' (lukewarm, half-hearted)
Portugal
fazer uma tentativa débil
standard Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

half-hearted effort
put up a poor fight
lack conviction
go through the motions
try and fail
weak attempt at something
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