thoughtless responsibility

[ˈθɔːtləs rɪˈspɒnsəˈbɪləti]
noun phrasefemininepl: thoughtless responsibilities / responsabilidades irrefletidas
responsabilidade irrefletida
1. A duty or obligation undertaken or maintained without careful consideration, forethought, or awareness of consequences
Taking on the project was a thoughtless responsibility that he later regretted when problems arose.
Aceitar o projeto foi uma responsabilidade irrefletida que ele depois se arrependeu quando surgiram problemas.
2. Acting as if responsible while neglecting to think through implications or impacts on others
His thoughtless responsibility in managing the team's budget led to unnecessary expenses.
Sua responsabilidade irrefletida na gestão do orçamento da equipe levou a gastos desnecessários.
3. The paradox of holding a position of responsibility while acting without proper deliberation
The manager's thoughtless responsibility created chaos in the department.
A responsabilidade irrefletida do gerente criou caos no departamento.
This phrase reflects a common workplace and social criticism in both American and Brazilian cultures, highlighting the tension between formal accountability and actual engagement. In Brazil, it's often used to critique bureaucratic inefficiency and leadership failure, while in the US it's frequently applied to corporate negligence and personal accountability gaps.
NYC Slang
half-assing a job / phoning it in while holding the bag
Synonyms / Sinônimos
careless responsibilityreckless dutynegligent obligationhasty commitmentirresponsible accountability
Antonyms / Antônimos
conscientious responsibilitycareful stewardshipdeliberate dutythoughtful accountabilitymindful obligation

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
responsabilidade irrefletida
Standard term used across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
responsabilidade sem pensar
More colloquial, everyday speech variant
São Paulo
responsabilidade descuidada
Common in business and formal contexts
Portugal
responsabilidade desapiedada / irrefletida
Similar usage but with slight stylistic differences in formal Portuguese

Related Words

irresponsibilitynegligencecarelessnessaccountabilitydutyobligationthoughtfulnessconscientiousness

Related Idioms & Phrases

bite off more than you can chew
in over your head
shoulder the burden
take on without thinking
responsibility without reflection
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