unreasonable request

[/ˌʌnˈriːzənəbəl rɪˈkwɛst/]
noun phrasepl: unreasonable requests
pedido irrazoável / solicitação irrazoável
1. A demand or appeal that is excessive, unfair, or impossible to fulfill; a request that goes beyond what is acceptable, logical, or just
Asking employees to work 20 hours a day is an unreasonable request.
Pedir aos funcionários que trabalhem 20 horas por dia é um pedido irrazoável.
2. A petition or favor sought that lacks justification or rational basis
His unreasonable request for a 100% salary increase was denied.
Seu pedido irrazoável de um aumento salarial de 100% foi negado.
In Brazilian business culture, making an unreasonable request is often softened with polite language and explanations. Americans tend to be more direct when rejecting such requests. In both cultures, openly calling a request 'unreasonable' can be considered confrontational; indirect phrasing is often preferred in professional settings.
NYC Slang
ask / ask for the moon / outrageous ask
Synonyms / Sinônimos
excessive requestunfair demandoutrageous requestimpossible requestabsurd request
Antonyms / Antônimos
reasonable requestfair demandmodest requestsensible request

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pedido irrazoável / solicitação irrazoável
Most common and widely understood across all Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
pedido sem pé nem cabeça
More colloquial expression meaning 'a request that makes no sense'
São Paulo
exigência abusiva / demanda excessiva
More formal, often used in business contexts
Portugal
pedido irrazoável / exigência desrazoável
Similar to Brazilian but 'desrazoável' is more commonly used in European Portuguese

Related Words

demandpetitionappealirrationalexcessiveunfairunjust

Related Idioms & Phrases

ask for the moon
ask for the impossible
a tall order
too much to ask
beyond the pale
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