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set limits

[/sɛt ˈlɪmɪts/]
verb phrase
estabelecer limites
1. To establish boundaries or restrictions on something; to define the maximum extent or duration of an activity or behavior
Parents need to set limits on their children's screen time.
Os pais precisam estabelecer limites no tempo de tela das crianças.
2. To impose constraints or controls on a person's actions or freedoms
The company set limits on how much employees could spend on travel.
A empresa estabeleceu limites sobre quanto os funcionários poderiam gastar em viagens.
3. To fix a maximum or minimum point beyond which something should not go
We need to set limits on our budget to avoid overspending.
Precisamos estabelecer limites no nosso orçamento para evitar gastos excessivos.
NYC Slang
draw the line
Synonyms
establish boundariesimpose restrictionsdefine limitsset boundariesplace constraints
Antonyms
remove restrictionslift limitsallow freedomexpand boundaries

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
estabelecer limites
Most commonly used in Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
colocar limites
Alternative informal usage in São Paulo
Portugal
fixar limites
Preferred in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

know one's limits
push the limits
within limits
there's a limit to
go to the limit
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