silent approval

[ˈsaɪlənt əˈpruːvəl]
noun phrase
aprovação silenciosa
1. tacit agreement or consent given without explicit verbal or written statement; acceptance implied through inaction or non-objection
The manager's silent approval of the proposal was evident in her lack of objection during the meeting.
A aprovação silenciosa do gerente pela proposta foi evidente pela sua falta de objeção durante a reunião.
2. agreement conveyed through gestures, facial expressions, or body language rather than words
He gave silent approval by nodding his head in agreement.
Ele deu aprovação silenciosa acenando a cabeça em concordância.
3. permissive behavior that implies consent without explicit authorization
The teacher's silent approval allowed the students to continue with their project.
A aprovação silenciosa da professora permitiu que os alunos continuassem com seu projeto.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, silent approval often carries legal and interpersonal significance. In business settings, it can imply contractual acceptance or organizational endorsement. Culturally, Americans and Brazilians may interpret silence differently—in some cases as agreement, in others as indifference—making explicit communication preferred in formal situations.
NYC Slang
a silent nod or just going along with it without saying anything
Synonyms / Sinônimos
tacit approvalimplicit consentunspoken agreementacquiescencenon-objectionnod of approval
Antonyms / Antônimos
explicit disapprovalverbal rejectionopen objectionstated disagreementvocal opposition

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
aprovação silenciosa
Standard formal usage in business and legal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
aprovação na muda
Colloquial expression meaning approval shown without speaking
São Paulo
concordância tácita
More formal legal term used in business agreements
Portugal
aprovação tácita
European Portuguese preference for 'tácita' over 'silenciosa'

Related Words

tacit consentimplied agreementnon-verbal communicationpassive acceptanceacquiescenceendorsement

Related Idioms & Phrases

give the silent treatment
let someone off the hook
turn a blind eye
not raise a finger
go along with the flow
nod and smile
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →