no effect

[/noʊ ɪˈfɛkt/]
noun phrase
🇧🇷 sem efeito
1. a situation where an action or statement produces no result or impact; something that has no consequence or influence
The medicine had no effect on his fever.
O medicamento não teve efeito em sua febre.
2. a legal or official status indicating that something is invalid or null
The contract was declared to have no effect.
O contrato foi declarado sem efeito.
3. an outcome or result that is negligible or insignificant
His complaints had no effect on the decision.
Suas reclamações não tiveram efeito na decisão.
💡 This phrase is commonly used in both American English and Brazilian Portuguese in legal, medical, and everyday contexts. In Brazil, 'sem efeito' is frequently used in formal documents and legal proceedings. In the US, the phrase is often used colloquially to express frustration when efforts yield no results. Both cultures use this expression to indicate futility or inefficacy.
🗽 NYC Slang
it ain't workin' / that's a no-go
Synonyms / Sinônimos
without effectto no availin vainnull and voidineffectual
Antonyms / Antônimos
with effecteffectiveimpactfulconsequentialproductive

Regional Variations

🇧🇷
General Brazilian
sem efeito
most common and neutral form used across Brazil
🏙️
São Paulo
sem efeito / ineficaz
both forms used; slightly more formal in business contexts
🌴
Rio de Janeiro
sem efeito
standard usage, sometimes expressed as 'que não funciona'
🇵🇹
Portugal
sem efeito
identical to Brazilian Portuguese; also used in legal contexts as 'nulo e sem efeito'

Related Words

ineffectiveineffectualimpactconsequenceresultoutcome

Related Idioms & Phrases

to no avail
null and void
fall on deaf ears
beat a dead horse
pounding sand
como quem fala para a parede (like talking to a wall)
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