15秒了解
- Priming your palate for a specific taste or meal.
- Usually involves a small snack or a first sip.
- Perfect for social dining and appetizer-heavy situations.
意思
This phrase means to prepare your palate or get a small taste of something before the main event. It is like whetting your appetite or 'getting your mouth ready' for a specific flavor.
关键例句
3 / 6At a bar with friends
Vamos pedir uns tremoços para fazer a boca?
Shall we order some lupin beans to whet our appetite?
At a formal dinner party
Este espumante é perfeito para fazer a boca antes do jantar.
This sparkling wine is perfect for preparing the palate before dinner.
Texting a partner about dinner
Já estou a fazer a boca com esse cheirinho!
My mouth is already watering (preparing) with that smell!
文化背景
This expression highlights the Mediterranean 'petisco' culture where small bites precede long meals. It reflects a society that values the transition from hunger to satisfaction as an art form. In rural Portugal, it often refers to having a small piece of bread or cheese with a glass of wine before lunch.
The 'A' vs 'Em' trick
In Portugal, you usually say 'fazer a boca a algo', while in Brazil, 'fazer a boca' is less common, but you'll hear 'abrir o apetite' more often.
Don't confuse with 'Boca Doce'
If you say 'fazer a boca doce', people will expect you to eat dessert. 'Fazer a boca' alone usually implies savory appetizers.
15秒了解
- Priming your palate for a specific taste or meal.
- Usually involves a small snack or a first sip.
- Perfect for social dining and appetizer-heavy situations.
What It Means
Fazer a boca is all about preparation. It means eating or drinking something small to set the mood. You are essentially priming your taste buds. Think of it as a culinary warm-up. It is that first bite that makes you crave more. It is not about being full. It is about the sensation of starting.
How To Use It
You use this when grabbing a quick snack. It often involves an appetizer or a drink. You use the preposition em or a after the phrase. For example, fazer a boca a um vinho. You are telling people you are just starting. It is a very active, sensory expression. It sounds much more poetic than just saying 'I am eating.'
When To Use It
Use it at a dinner party before the main course. Use it when you see a bowl of olives. It is perfect for that first sip of a cold beer. Use it when you are describing a tasting experience. It works well when you want to sound like a foodie. It is great for social gatherings with friends.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it if you are already stuffed. It does not work for a heavy, five-course meal. Avoid it in very stiff, corporate board meetings. It is too sensory for a dry business report. Do not use it for non-food items. You cannot fazer a boca to a new car. That would just be weird and messy.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture revolves around the table. Food is not just fuel; it is a ritual. This phrase reflects the importance of the 'entrada' (appetizer). It suggests that eating is a process that requires a beginning. It likely stems from old tavern culture. People would have a small bite to handle strong wine. It shows a deep respect for the act of tasting.
Common Variations
You might hear fazer a boca doce. This specifically means eating something sweet to end a meal. Another one is abrir o apetite. That is more functional and less about the 'mouth' sensation. Some regions might just say fazer o gosto. However, fazer a boca remains the most evocative version. It puts the focus squarely on your physical senses.
使用说明
The phrase is mostly informal to neutral. It is perfect for social settings involving food. Be careful with the preposition 'a' which is the most idiomatic choice in European Portuguese.
The 'A' vs 'Em' trick
In Portugal, you usually say 'fazer a boca a algo', while in Brazil, 'fazer a boca' is less common, but you'll hear 'abrir o apetite' more often.
Don't confuse with 'Boca Doce'
If you say 'fazer a boca doce', people will expect you to eat dessert. 'Fazer a boca' alone usually implies savory appetizers.
The Bread Ritual
In many Portuguese restaurants, bread and butter are placed instantly. This is the ultimate 'fazer a boca' moment, but careful—they aren't always free!
例句
6Vamos pedir uns tremoços para fazer a boca?
Shall we order some lupin beans to whet our appetite?
A classic way to start a session of drinks.
Este espumante é perfeito para fazer a boca antes do jantar.
This sparkling wine is perfect for preparing the palate before dinner.
Even in formal settings, it sounds sophisticated and appreciative.
Já estou a fazer a boca com esse cheirinho!
My mouth is already watering (preparing) with that smell!
Used figuratively to show excitement for the food.
Só um pedacinho de queijo para fazer a boca.
Just a little piece of cheese to get a taste.
Common when you are just sampling before buying.
Ei! Estás a fazer a boca com as minhas batatas?
Hey! Are you whetting your appetite with my fries?
A lighthearted way to call out a food thief.
Fiz a boca a este doce e lembrei-me da minha avó.
I tasted this sweet and it reminded me of my grandmother.
Shows how taste can trigger deep emotions.
自我测试
Choose the correct preposition to complete the phrase.
Vou fazer a boca ___ estes salgadinhos.
While 'com' is understood, 'fazer a boca a' is the most traditional idiomatic construction.
Which situation best fits the phrase?
O João está a ___ antes da feijoada.
'Fazer a boca' refers to the appetizer phase before a heavy meal like feijoada.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Fazer a boca'
Used with friends over beer and snacks.
Bora fazer a boca!
Common in restaurants and family lunches.
Vamos fazer a boca com entradas.
Slightly less common but acceptable in foodie circles.
Um aperitivo para fazer a boca.
Where to use 'Fazer a boca'
Wine Tasting
Fazer a boca ao tinto.
Tapas Bar
Petiscos para fazer a boca.
Sunday Lunch
Azeitonas para fazer a boca.
Cooking
Provar o molho para fazer a boca.
练习题库
2 练习Vou fazer a boca ___ estes salgadinhos.
While 'com' is understood, 'fazer a boca a' is the most traditional idiomatic construction.
O João está a ___ antes da feijoada.
'Fazer a boca' refers to the appetizer phase before a heavy meal like feijoada.
🎉 得分： /2
常见问题
10 个问题Not necessarily. It means you are preparing to eat, focusing on the flavor rather than the hunger. You could fazer a boca even if you aren't starving.
Yes, absolutely! It is very common to fazer a boca with a glass of wine or a beer before the meal starts.
No, it is quite friendly and shows you appreciate the food. It is a very natural thing to say at a dinner table.
An appetizer is the food itself (a entrada). Fazer a boca is the action of eating that appetizer to prepare your palate.
It is understood, but less common than in Portugal. In Brazil, people might say beliscar (to nibble) or abrir o apetite.
You could say preparar o paladar, but fazer a boca is much more soulful and common among locals.
People will be confused. It is strictly tied to the physical sensation of tasting and eating.
Always a small amount. If you eat a whole steak, you aren't fazer a boca anymore; you're just eating lunch!
Only if you say fazer a boca doce. Otherwise, it usually refers to the start of the meal.
Like the verb fazer. For example: Eu fiz a boca, Nós fizemos a boca.
相关表达
Abrir o apetite
Fazer a boca doce
Matar a bicha
Picar qualquer coisa
Ir aos petiscos
