medir esforços

Verb

idiomatic

出し惜しみする、手加減する、力をセーブする、労力を惜しむ、（比喩的に）遠慮する・加減する・控えめにする

English Meaning

(idiomatic, almost always in the negative) to have a limit on what one is willing to do to achieve something

Apesar de querer muito avançar na carreira, ele sempre sabe medir esforços para não ultrapassar os limites da ética.

彼はキャリアアップに非常に熱心であるにもかかわらず、常に倫理の境界を越えないよう努力の限度を定めています。

Although he is very eager to advance in his career, he always knows where to draw the line so as not to cross the boundaries of ethics.