unworkable idea

[/ʌnˈwɜːrkəbl aɪˈdɪə/]
noun phrasepl: unworkable ideas
ideia impraticável
1. A concept, plan, or suggestion that cannot be successfully implemented or executed in practice
His proposal to eliminate all taxes was an unworkable idea that nobody took seriously.
Sua proposta de eliminar todos os impostos era uma ideia impraticável que ninguém levava a sério.
2. A scheme or strategy that is theoretically interesting but practically impossible to accomplish
The startup's business model turned out to be an unworkable idea after six months of testing.
O modelo de negócio da startup se mostrou uma ideia impraticável após seis meses de testes.
In both Brazilian and American business cultures, describing an idea as 'unworkable' is a diplomatic way to reject proposals during meetings. In Brazil, there's often more emphasis on collaborative problem-solving to find alternatives, while in the US, such ideas are more directly dismissed. The Portuguese term 'ideia impraticável' is frequently used in formal business communications and project management.
NYC Slang
dead idea, no-go idea, pipe dream (informal), half-baked plan
Synonyms / Sinônimos
impractical ideainfeasible ideaimpracticable ideanon-viable ideaunfeasible planimpossible scheme
Antonyms / Antônimos
workable ideapractical ideafeasible planviable solutionexecutable strategy

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ideia impraticável
Standard formal usage in business and academic contexts
Rio de Janeiro
ideia que não funciona
More colloquial phrasing, commonly used in informal discussions
São Paulo
ideia inviável
Preferred in corporate and entrepreneurial environments
Portugal
ideia impraticável
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; also uses 'ideia inaplicável' in some contexts

Related Words

impracticalinfeasibleimpossibleunrealisticimplementationviabilityfeasibility studyprototype

Related Idioms & Phrases

won't fly
back to the drawing board
pie in the sky
castles in the air
não vai funcionar
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