ungrateful task

[/ʌnˈɡreɪtfəl tæsk/]
noun phrasepl: ungrateful tasks
tarefa ingrata
1. A job or responsibility that is difficult, unpleasant, or unrewarding, and unlikely to earn appreciation or thanks from others
Telling him the truth about his behavior was an ungrateful task, but it had to be done.
Contar a verdade sobre seu comportamento foi uma tarefa ingrata, mas tinha que ser feita.
2. Work that involves delivering bad news or criticism that will not be well-received
Being the manager who announces layoffs is an ungrateful task.
Ser o gerente que anuncia demissões é uma tarefa ingrata.
This expression is commonly used in both American and Brazilian professional contexts to describe responsibilities that must be completed despite their unpopularity. In Brazil, 'tarefa ingrata' reflects cultural values around difficult but necessary duties, while in the US it often appears in corporate or management settings when discussing undesirable assignments.
NYC Slang
a thankless gig; a no-win situation
Synonyms / Sinônimos
thankless taskdisagreeable taskunpleasant dutydifficult assignment
Antonyms / Antônimos
rewarding taskgrateful taskpleasant dutyappreciated work

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
tarefa ingrata
Standard term used across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
trampo ingrato
Informal, colloquial usage
São Paulo
tarefa desagradável
Alternative, emphasizing unpleasantness
Portugal
tarefa ingrata
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; also 'trabalho ingrato'

Related Words

thankless jobburdenchoreobligationresponsibilityunpopular decision

Related Idioms & Phrases

fall on deaf ears
bite the bullet
take one for the team
the short end of the stick
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →