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paying attention

[ˈpeɪɪŋ əˈtenʃən]
verb phrase
prestar atenção
1. Concentrating or focusing one's mind on something; listening or watching carefully
Were you paying attention to what the teacher said?
Você estava prestando atenção no que o professor disse?
2. Showing interest or care in something or someone
She wasn't paying attention to her appearance anymore.
Ela não estava mais prestando atenção à sua aparência.
NYC Slang
paying mind; staying woke; clocking it
Synonyms
concentratingfocusinglisteningwatchingmindingobserving
Antonyms
ignoringdisregardingdaydreamingneglecting

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
prestar atenção
Most common usage across Brazil
São Paulo
prestar atenção
Standard usage
Rio de Janeiro
prestar atenção
Standard usage, sometimes informal: 'tá ligado?'
Portugal
estar atento
Also 'prestar atenção' but 'estar atento' is more common

Related Idioms & Phrases

pay attention to detail
catch someone's attention
draw attention to
turn a blind eye
keep your eyes peeled
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