one-sided engagement

[wʌn ˈsaɪdɪd ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt]
nounpl: one-sided engagements
envolvimento unilateral
1. A situation where only one party is actively participating, investing effort, or showing commitment in a relationship, conversation, or business arrangement
The marriage felt like a one-sided engagement because only one spouse was making efforts to communicate.
O casamento parecia um envolvimento unilateral porque apenas um cônjuge estava fazendo esforços para se comunicar.
2. In military or conflict contexts, an engagement where one side has a significant advantage or only one side is actively fighting
The military operation turned into a one-sided engagement with superior forces overwhelming the opposition.
A operação militar transformou-se em um envolvimento unilateral com forças superiores subjugando a oposição.
3. A business or professional relationship where the benefits or responsibilities are disproportionately distributed
The partnership became a one-sided engagement when one company stopped contributing resources.
A parceria tornou-se um envolvimento unilateral quando uma empresa parou de contribuir com recursos.
This term is commonly used in both American and Brazilian contexts to describe imbalanced relationships, whether romantic, professional, or social. In Brazilian culture, where relationships and personal connections are highly valued, one-sided engagement is often viewed negatively as it contradicts the emphasis on mutuality and 'jogo de cintura' (flexibility and reciprocity). In American business culture, it may be used to describe unfair contract negotiations or partnerships.
NYC Slang
one-way street (relationship)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
unilateral engagementone-way relationshipasymmetrical interactionimbalanced involvementunequal participation
Antonyms / Antônimos
mutual engagementbilateral engagementreciprocal involvementbalanced partnershipequal participation

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
envolvimento unilateral
Standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
relacionamento de mão única
Colloquial alternative emphasizing one-directional nature
São Paulo
engajamento desequilibrado
More common in business contexts
Portugal
envolvimento unilateral
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; also 'participação desequilibrada'

Related Words

engagementunilateralasymmetryparticipationinvolvementcommitmentreciprocityimbalance

Related Idioms & Phrases

carrying the weight on one's shoulders
doing all the heavy lifting
pulling all the weight
a one-way street
giving more than you get
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