rely on memory

[/rɪˈlaɪ ɑn ˈmɛməri/]
verb phrase
confiar na memória
1. to depend on one's ability to remember information without external references or written notes
During the exam, I had to rely on memory since notes were not permitted.
Durante a prova, tive que confiar na memória já que anotações não eram permitidas.
2. to trust one's recollection of past events or information
She had to rely on memory to recall the details of the incident from years ago.
Ela teve que confiar na memória para lembrar os detalhes do incidente de anos atrás.
3. to use mental recall as the primary source of information
Without documentation, we can only rely on memory to verify what happened.
Sem documentação, só podemos confiar na memória para verificar o que aconteceu.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, 'rely on memory' is a common expression used in academic, legal, and everyday situations. In Brazil, it reflects concerns about documentation practices, while in the USA it often appears in educational and professional settings where memory testing is valued. The phrase carries implications about reliability and accuracy depending on context.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
depend on memorytrust one's memorygo by memoryrecall from memory
Antonyms / Antônimos
consult notesrefer to documentationcheck recordslook it up

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
confiar na memória
Standard translation used across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
contar com a memória
Alternative phrasing commonly used in casual speech
São Paulo
depender da memória
More formal variant used in business contexts
Portugal
contar com a memória / depender da memória
Both phrases are acceptable; slightly different frequency of use than Brazil

Related Words

memoryrecallrecollectionmemorizationremembranceretention

Related Idioms & Phrases

trust your memory
go from memory
memory serves
if memory serves me right
memory is playing tricks on me
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