prohibited subject
[/prəˈhɪbɪtɪd ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/]
nounpl: prohibited subjects
assunto proibido
1. A topic or matter that is forbidden, not allowed, or cannot be discussed in a particular context, institution, or jurisdiction
Religion and politics are often considered prohibited subjects in polite conversation.
Religião e política são frequentemente considerados assuntos proibidos em conversas educadas.
2. In education or academia, a subject area that is not permitted to be taught or studied due to legal, ethical, or institutional restrictions
During the authoritarian regime, certain historical topics became prohibited subjects in schools.
Durante o regime autoritário, certos tópicos históricos se tornaram assuntos proibidos nas escolas.
3. Content that is banned or censored by law, regulation, or social convention
The government declared that subject a prohibited subject for all media outlets.
O governo declarou aquele assunto como um assunto proibido para todos os meios de comunicação.
In Brazil, discussions around prohibited subjects vary by context—historical topics during dictatorship periods were heavily censored, while in modern democratic society, certain topics remain sensitive in family or professional settings. In the USA, workplace policies often designate certain subjects as prohibited to maintain professional environments. The concept reflects broader cultural values about respect, order, and social boundaries in both societies.
NYC Slang
off-limits topic / don't-go-there subject
Related Idioms & Phrases
touch on a prohibited subject
steer clear of prohibited subjects
breach a prohibited subject
open a can of worms (when touching prohibited subjects)
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →