stiff performance
[/stɪf pərˈfɔːrməns/]
noun phrasepl: stiff performances
desempenho rígido; atuação travada
1. A performance that lacks natural ease, fluidity, or emotional authenticity; characterized by tension, awkwardness, or mechanical execution
The actor's stiff performance in the opening scene disappointed many critics.
A atuação travada do ator na cena de abertura decepcionou muitos críticos.
2. In music, dance, or sports: execution that appears tense, unnatural, or lacking grace and spontaneity
Despite her talent, her stiff performance at the competition showed signs of nervousness.
Apesar de seu talento, seu desempenho rígido na competição mostrou sinais de nervosismo.
This term is widely used in entertainment criticism in both American and Brazilian contexts. In Brazil, it's commonly heard in reviews of theater, cinema, and music performances. The phrase reflects cultural expectations of naturalness and emotional authenticity in performance arts. Critics using this term are often expressing disappointment in an artist's inability to overcome nervous tension or technical constraints to deliver a compelling, natural-seeming performance.
NYC Slang
wooden acting; stiff show
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