15秒でわかる
- Expresses intense craving or anticipation for something specific.
- Commonly used for food, travel, or career goals.
- Implies you are very close to getting what you want.
意味
This phrase describes someone who is extremely eager or 'dying' to have or do something. It is that feeling when your mouth is practically watering because you want something so badly.
主な例文
3 / 6Waiting for a pizza to arrive
Estou à boca de uma pizza desde manhã!
I've been dying for a pizza since this morning!
Anticipating a summer vacation
Ela está à boca das férias no Algarve.
She is so ready for her holidays in the Algarve.
In a professional but relaxed setting
A equipa está à boca deste novo projeto.
The team is eager to start this new project.
文化的背景
This idiom reflects the deep-seated Portuguese connection between gastronomy and emotion. It highlights a culture that doesn't just eat to live, but lives to anticipate the next great experience. It is particularly popular in coastal regions where the anticipation of fresh catch is a daily ritual.
The 'De' Connection
Always remember to use `de` after the phrase. If you're eager for 'the' (feminine) thing, it becomes `da`. `Estou à boca da viagem!`
Don't confuse with 'Boca Fechada'
While `estar à boca` means you want something, `boca fechada` means keeping a secret. Don't mix your mouth idioms!
15秒でわかる
- Expresses intense craving or anticipation for something specific.
- Commonly used for food, travel, or career goals.
- Implies you are very close to getting what you want.
What It Means
Imagine you see a delicious chocolate cake. You aren't just hungry. You are focused entirely on that cake. Estar à boca means you are on the verge of getting it. You are craving it intensely. It captures that moment of high anticipation. It is more than just wanting. It is being ready to pounce.
How To Use It
You use this phrase with the preposition de or para. For example, estar à boca de followed by a noun. You can also use it for events. It works perfectly for things you have waited for. Just conjugate the verb estar to match the subject. It is simple and very expressive.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing food you love. Use it when a promotion is very close. It is great for travel plans. If you are at a restaurant, use it with friends. It shows your genuine excitement. It makes you sound like a local. It adds flavor to your descriptions.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very stiff business meetings. Do not use it for sad or serious topics. It carries a sense of 'appetite' or 'desire'. Using it for a funeral would be very weird. It is too energetic for somber moments. Keep it for things that bring joy or cravings.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture revolves heavily around food and passion. This expression links physical hunger to general life desires. It likely started in kitchens or markets. It reflects the Mediterranean love for the 'good life'. To have your 'mouth on' something is to be fully present. It shows you live with your senses.
Common Variations
You might hear ficar com a pulga atrás da orelha for suspicion. But for desire, estar com água na boca is the closest cousin. That one means 'mouth watering'. Estar à boca is slightly more about the proximity. You are right there, ready to grab it. Both are favorites in Lisbon and Porto cafes.
使い方のコツ
This idiom sits comfortably in the B1 level because it requires understanding the contraction of prepositions (de + a = da) and the nuances of the verb 'estar'. It is primarily an informal expression used among peers.
The 'De' Connection
Always remember to use `de` after the phrase. If you're eager for 'the' (feminine) thing, it becomes `da`. `Estou à boca da viagem!`
Don't confuse with 'Boca Fechada'
While `estar à boca` means you want something, `boca fechada` means keeping a secret. Don't mix your mouth idioms!
The Coffee Culture
In Portugal, you'll often hear this in 'pastelarias'. It’s the ultimate way to compliment a baker's work before you even take a bite.
例文
6Estou à boca de uma pizza desde manhã!
I've been dying for a pizza since this morning!
Shows a long-lasting craving for a specific food.
Ela está à boca das férias no Algarve.
She is so ready for her holidays in the Algarve.
Used here for a planned event rather than food.
A equipa está à boca deste novo projeto.
The team is eager to start this new project.
Shows enthusiasm for a work task.
Já estou à boca daquela festa logo à noite!
I'm already hyped for that party tonight!
Perfect for informal digital communication.
O gato já está à boca do peixe na mesa.
The cat is already eyeing the fish on the table.
Humorous personification of a pet's hunger.
Estou à boca de uma vida mais calma.
I'm longing for a calmer life.
Shows a more abstract, emotional longing.
自分をテスト
Fill in the blank to express you are eager for the weekend.
Eu ___ à boca do fim de semana!
The phrase uses the verb `estar` because it describes a temporary state of desire.
Choose the correct preposition to follow the phrase.
Estamos à boca ___ sobremesa.
The phrase typically uses `de` (which contracts with `a` to become `da`) to indicate the object of desire.
🎉 スコア： /2
ビジュアル学習ツール
Formality Scale of 'Estar à boca'
Very street-level, used by teens.
Tô na boca!
Perfect for friends and family.
Estou à boca do jantar.
Safe for most social situations.
O público está à boca do espetáculo.
Where to use 'Estar à boca'
At a Bakery
Looking at fresh pastéis de nata.
Friday Afternoon
Waiting for the clock to hit 5 PM.
Before a Concert
Standing in line for your favorite band.
Hungry at Home
Smelling dinner cooking in the kitchen.
練習問題バンク
2 問題Eu ___ à boca do fim de semana!
The phrase uses the verb `estar` because it describes a temporary state of desire.
Estamos à boca ___ sobremesa.
The phrase typically uses `de` (which contracts with `a` to become `da`) to indicate the object of desire.
🎉 スコア： /2
よくある質問
10 問No, while it has roots in hunger, you can use it for anything you desire, like estar à boca de um feriado (eager for a holiday).
Not exactly. Estar com fome is just being hungry. Estar à boca is more about the intense anticipation of a specific thing.
It might be a bit too informal. Stick to estou muito interessado or estou ansioso in formal settings.
In Brazil, you're more likely to hear estar na fissura or estar doido por. Estar à boca is more common in European Portuguese.
It literally means 'at the mouth'. It suggests the object is right at your lips, ready to be enjoyed.
Be careful! Using it for people can sound quite suggestive or romantic, like estar à boca dele.
Yes, just change the verb: Eu estava à boca daquele bolo (I was dying for that cake).
Usually, yes. You need to specify what you are 'at the mouth' of, like do sucesso (of success).
Not at all! It's just very expressive and enthusiastic, perfect for friendly chats.
Generally, no. It implies a desire or appetite for something you actually want to happen.
関連フレーズ
estar com água na boca
comer com os olhos
estar mortinho por
abrir o apetite
