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polish one's skills

[/ˈpɑːlɪʃ wʌnz skɪlz/]
verb phrase
aperfeiçoar suas habilidades
1. To improve and refine one's abilities or expertise through practice and effort
She spent the summer polishing her skills in graphic design.
Ela passou o verão aperfeiçoando suas habilidades em design gráfico.
2. To make something already competent even better by fine-tuning details
The pianist polished his skills before the concert.
O pianista aperfeiçoou suas habilidades antes do concerto.
NYC Slang
get your game tight / sharpen up your game
Synonyms
refine one's skillssharpen one's skillsimprove one's abilitiesenhance one's expertiseperfect one's craft
Antonyms
neglect one's skillslose one's skillsdeteriorate in ability

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
aperfeiçoar suas habilidades
Most common translation in Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
aprimorar suas skills
Often uses the English word 'skills' in informal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
melhorar suas habilidades
Alternative, slightly less formal option
Portugal
aperfeiçoar as suas competências
Uses 'competências' instead of 'habilidades'; more formal

Related Idioms & Phrases

practice makes perfect
sharpen the saw
keep your edge
up your game
put in the work
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