abrir mão

You always need the preposition de after the phrase. If you are giving up 'it,' you say abrir mão disso. It works just like a regular verb. You can say eu abro mão (I give up) or nós abrimos mão (we give up). It is perfect for negotiations or personal sacrifices. Use it when you are being the 'bigger person' in a conversation.

Use it at a restaurant when you give the last slice of pizza to a friend. Use it in a job interview to discuss flexibility with your salary. It is great for emotional moments too. If you are texting a friend about a breakup, you might say you had to abrir mão of the relationship. It sounds mature and thoughtful. It is the language of compromise and adulthood.

Do not use it for habits like smoking or drinking. For those, use parar de. If you stop a project because you are lazy, that is desistir. Abrir mão implies you are giving up something valuable or a right you actually have. Don't use it if the choice wasn't yours. If the bank takes your car, you didn't abrir mão of it; they just took it!

Brazilians are known for being flexible and 'jeitosos.' However, abrir mão carries a weight of character. In Brazilian history and law, this phrase is used for 'waiving' rights. It suggests a level of generosity or pragmatism. It reflects a culture that values social harmony over being right all the time. Sometimes you 'open your hand' just to keep the peace at the Sunday BBQ.

You might hear não abro mão. This is a very common way to say something is non-negotiable. If you love your morning coffee, you say não abro mão do meu café. It is a strong statement of preference. It shows that some things in life are simply sacred to you. It is the 'hill you are willing to die on' in a conversation.