C1 Expression Formell

Sob o risco de

At the risk of

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'Sob o risco de' to introduce a potential negative consequence or danger that might result from an action.

  • Means: 'At the risk of' or 'under the threat of' something bad happening.
  • Used in: Formal warnings, legal documents, and serious news reporting.
  • Don't confuse: Never use it for positive outcomes; it's strictly for negative risks.
Action + ⚠️ = Potential Disaster

Explanation at your level:

This is a very difficult phrase for beginners. It means 'something bad might happen'. Think of it like a warning sign. You might see it on a door or a wall. It is not for talking with friends. It is for official rules. For now, just remember that 'risco' means 'danger'.
At this level, you can understand that 'sob o risco de' is used for warnings. It is like saying 'if you do this, you have a problem'. It is very formal. You will see it in news or at work. Don't try to use it in your daily life yet; use 'pode ser ruim' instead.
This expression introduces a negative consequence. It is common in formal writing. The structure is 'sob o risco de' + [verb]. For example: 'Don't go there, at the risk of getting lost.' In Portuguese: 'Não vá lá, sob o risco de se perder.' It is more formal than 'correr o risco'.
You should use this phrase in formal essays or business reports. It indicates a potential threat that exists as a condition of an action. It is often followed by an infinitive verb or a noun phrase. It shows you have a good command of formal registers and understand how to express causality in a sophisticated way.
As a C1 learner, you should master the nuance between 'sob o risco de' and its synonyms. This phrase implies a state of being subject to a specific danger. It is a 'frozen' expression, meaning the preposition 'sob' cannot be changed. It is essential for academic discourse and legal interpretation in Portuguese-speaking countries, providing a precise way to articulate vulnerability to negative outcomes.
Mastery of 'sob o risco de' involves recognizing its rhetorical power in formal oratory and legal drafting. It functions as a conditional marker that emphasizes the gravity of the potential consequence. Cognitively, it frames the risk as an environmental factor (under the risk) rather than just a possibility. You should be able to use it to navigate complex bureaucratic texts and produce high-level analytical content with native-like precision.

Bedeutung

Indicating a potential danger or negative consequence.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

In Brazil, this phrase is a staple of 'Juridiquês' (legal jargon). Brazilians often joke about how lawyers use such phrases to make simple things sound complicated. In Portugal, the phrase is very common in formal administrative notices from the government (Finanças, Segurança Social). It sounds very authoritative. In African Lusophone countries, the formal register of Portuguese is often strictly maintained in official media, making this phrase very common in news broadcasts. In the corporate world of São Paulo or Lisbon, using this phrase in a presentation shows that you have conducted a serious 'Análise de Risco' (Risk Analysis).

🎯

Use with Infinitives

It sounds most natural when followed by a verb in the infinitive, like 'sob o risco de perder'.

⚠️

Avoid 'Sobre'

Using 'sobre' is the #1 mistake. It changes the meaning to 'talking about the risk'.

Bedeutung

Indicating a potential danger or negative consequence.

🎯

Use with Infinitives

It sounds most natural when followed by a verb in the infinitive, like 'sob o risco de perder'.

⚠️

Avoid 'Sobre'

Using 'sobre' is the #1 mistake. It changes the meaning to 'talking about the risk'.

💬

Legal Tone

Use this in emails to your boss to sound more professional and serious about potential issues.

Teste dich selbst

Preencha a lacuna com a forma correta (sob o risco de + contração se necessário).

Não saia sem segurança, ________ assalto.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: sob o risco do

Assalto is a masculine noun, so 'de + o' becomes 'do'.

Qual frase usa a expressão de forma natural e correta?

Escolha a opção certa:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Ele mentiu no tribunal sob o risco de ser preso.

The phrase must be used for negative consequences like being arrested.

Complete o diálogo formal.

Diretor: 'Precisamos cortar gastos.' Gerente: 'Sim, mas se cortarmos o marketing, faremos isso ________ perder mercado.'

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: sob o risco de

In a formal business meeting, 'sob o risco de' is the most appropriate choice.

Combine a ação com o risco provável usando a expressão.

Ação: Dirigir embriagado.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: sob o risco de multa e prisão

Driving drunk leads to legal penalties.

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No. 'Risco' implies a negative outcome. For positive things, use 'com a chance de'.

Use 'de' before verbs. Use 'do/da' before nouns. Example: 'de cair' vs 'do tombo'.

Yes, it is very common in both Brazil and Portugal, especially in formal writing.

The most informal way is 'correndo o risco de' or just 'vai que...'.

No, it is usually followed by the infinitive.

No, that sounds like you are physically standing under a sign. Use 'sob'.

Extremely common. You will hear it daily on news programs like Jornal Nacional.

Only if you are being sarcastic or very serious with a colleague.

'Sob pena de' is for specific punishments (fines, prison). 'Sob o risco de' is for any bad outcome.

It's a strong, raspy 'H' sound from the back of the throat.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

Correr o risco de

similar

To run the risk of

🔗

Sob pena de

specialized form

Under penalty of

🔗

À mercê de

similar

At the mercy of

🔄

Em perigo de

synonym

In danger of

🔗

A despeito de

contrast

Despite

Wo du es verwendest

⚖️

Legal Warning

Advogado: Você deve entregar os documentos até amanhã.

Cliente: E se eu não conseguir?

Advogado: Faremos o pedido, mas sob o risco de indeferimento imediato.

formal
💼

Job Interview

Entrevistador: Por que você deixou seu último emprego?

Candidato: Eu decidi empreender, mesmo sob o risco de instabilidade financeira.

formal
📺

News Broadcast

Âncora: A barragem pode romper a qualquer momento.

Repórter: Sim, os moradores estão saindo sob o risco de perderem tudo o que têm.

formal
🏥

Doctor's Office

Médico: A cirurgia é necessária.

Paciente: Quais são as chances?

Médico: Operamos sob o risco de complicações, mas é a única opção.

formal
💻

IT Support

Técnico: Vou formatar o computador.

Usuário: Vou perder meus arquivos?

Técnico: Se não houver backup, faremos sob o risco de perda total de dados.

neutral
🌱

Environmental Protest

Ativista: Não podemos permitir essa obra.

Político: Ela trará empregos.

Ativista: Sim, mas sob o risco de destruir o ecossistema local.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'SOB' as 'Subjected to Overwhelming Badness'.

Visual Association

Imagine a person walking under a giant, heavy rock labeled 'RISCO' that is hanging by a thin thread. They are literally 'under the risk'.

Rhyme

Sob o risco de perder, melhor não se arrepender.

Story

A sailor is navigating a ship. He sees a sign that says 'Sob o risco de pedras'. He knows that if he goes under that specific cliff, the rocks (riscos) will sink his ship. He chooses to stay in the safe, informal waters of 'correr o risco' instead.

Word Web

perigoconsequênciaameaçamultapenavulnerabilidadeprobabilidade

Herausforderung

Write three formal warnings for your office or home using 'Sob o risco de'. For example: 'Não deixe a louça suja, sob o risco de formigas.'

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Bajo el riesgo de

Virtually no difference in usage or meaning.

French moderate

Au risque de

Uses 'at' instead of 'under'.

German partial

Auf die Gefahr hin

Uses 'on' and 'danger' instead of 'under' and 'risk'.

Japanese low

〜の恐れがある

Focuses on 'fear' as an existing state rather than being 'under' a risk.

Arabic moderate

تحت طائلة

More focused on 'penalty' than general 'risk'.

Chinese partial

冒着...的风险

Implies 'braving' or 'facing' rather than being 'under'.

Korean low

~의 위험을 무릅쓰고

Active 'braving' vs. passive 'being under'.

English high

At the risk of

Uses 'at' for general risks and 'under' for threats/penalties.

Easily Confused

Sob o risco de vs. Sobre o risco

Learners confuse the prepositions 'sob' (under) and 'sobre' (on/about).

Remember 'SOB' is like 'SUBmarine' (under). You are under the shadow of the risk.

Sob o risco de vs. Sob o riso

A phonetic confusion between 'risco' (risk) and 'riso' (laughter).

Risk has a 'C' for 'Consequence'. Laughter (riso) has no 'C'.

FAQ (10)

No. 'Risco' implies a negative outcome. For positive things, use 'com a chance de'.

Use 'de' before verbs. Use 'do/da' before nouns. Example: 'de cair' vs 'do tombo'.

Yes, it is very common in both Brazil and Portugal, especially in formal writing.

The most informal way is 'correndo o risco de' or just 'vai que...'.

No, it is usually followed by the infinitive.

No, that sounds like you are physically standing under a sign. Use 'sob'.

Extremely common. You will hear it daily on news programs like Jornal Nacional.

Only if you are being sarcastic or very serious with a colleague.

'Sob pena de' is for specific punishments (fines, prison). 'Sob o risco de' is for any bad outcome.

It's a strong, raspy 'H' sound from the back of the throat.

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