estar de molho
To be resting
字面意思: To be in the soak
Use it to tell friends or colleagues you are home recovering from something minor.
15秒了解
- Used when resting due to illness, injury, or exhaustion.
- Comes from the culinary practice of soaking beans or fish.
- Means being temporarily out of action or sidelined.
意思
It means you are taking a break or staying home to recover. Usually, it implies you're sidelined by a minor illness, injury, or just pure exhaustion.
关键例句
3 / 6Explaining why you missed a party
Não fui à festa porque estou de molho com uma gripe terrível.
I didn't go to the party because I'm resting with a terrible flu.
Talking about a sports injury
O jogador vai ficar de molho por duas semanas após a lesão.
The player will be sidelined for two weeks after the injury.
Explaining absence to a boss
Chefe, peguei uma virose e vou ter que ficar de molho hoje.
Boss, I caught a virus and I'll have to stay home today.
文化背景
The expression draws from the culinary tradition of soaking 'bacalhau' (salt cod) or beans overnight. It highlights a cultural acceptance of necessary downtime and the patience required for natural processes. It transitioned from the kitchen to daily life to describe anyone temporarily 'sidelined' from their routine.
The 'Rice' Trick
If you actually put a wet phone in rice, you can jokingly say it is 'de molho' literally and figuratively. Brazilians love this kind of wordplay!
Don't confuse with 'Molho'
While 'molho' means sauce, 'estar de molho' never means you are covered in tomato sauce. It always refers to the soaking process.
15秒了解
- Used when resting due to illness, injury, or exhaustion.
- Comes from the culinary practice of soaking beans or fish.
- Means being temporarily out of action or sidelined.
What It Means
Imagine you are a piece of dry salt cod or some tough beans. You need to sit in water for a long time to soften up. That is the vibe of estar de molho. It means you are out of commission. You aren't doing your usual activities. You are resting because your body or mind needs to 'soften' or recover. It is the perfect way to say you are homebound but not necessarily dying.
How To Use It
You use it like any other state of being. Pair it with the verb estar. You can say estou de molho (I am resting). You can also use it for objects. If your car is at the mechanic, it is de molho. If your phone is broken, it is de molho. It is very flexible. Just don't use it for a quick five-minute nap. It implies a longer period, like a few days.
When To Use It
Use it when you have a cold or a flu. It is great for when you sprain an ankle. Use it when you are burnt out from work. Text your friends this when you have to cancel plans. It sounds less dramatic than saying 'I am sick.' It sounds more like 'I am just taking care of myself.' It is very common in casual conversation and workplace small talk.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very formal medical reports. Don't use it for extremely serious, life-threatening hospitalizations. It might sound too lighthearted for a grave situation. Also, don't use it if you are just lazy for one afternoon. It suggests a forced or necessary period of recovery. If you are just chilling by choice, use relaxando instead.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from the kitchen. In Portugal and Brazil, we soak grains and dried fish to prepare them. This process cannot be rushed. You just have to wait. Brazilians and Portuguese people value this 'waiting period.' It reflects a cultural understanding that recovery takes time. You can't force a bean to soften faster. You can't force a fever to break instantly.
Common Variations
Sometimes people say ficar de molho. This focuses on the act of starting the rest. You might hear deixar alguém de molho. This means making someone wait or giving them the cold shoulder. If a coach keeps a player on the bench, they are de molho. It is a very visual and versatile expression in the Lusophone world.
使用说明
The phrase is highly versatile and safe for most social situations. It bridges the gap between 'sick' and 'resting'.
The 'Rice' Trick
If you actually put a wet phone in rice, you can jokingly say it is 'de molho' literally and figuratively. Brazilians love this kind of wordplay!
Don't confuse with 'Molho'
While 'molho' means sauce, 'estar de molho' never means you are covered in tomato sauce. It always refers to the soaking process.
The Bench Warmer
In soccer culture, if a star player is 'de molho', it's big news. It implies the team is waiting for their 'softening' or recovery to finish.
例句
6Não fui à festa porque estou de molho com uma gripe terrível.
I didn't go to the party because I'm resting with a terrible flu.
A classic use for a common illness.
O jogador vai ficar de molho por duas semanas após a lesão.
The player will be sidelined for two weeks after the injury.
Commonly used in sports journalism and casual sports talk.
Chefe, peguei uma virose e vou ter que ficar de molho hoje.
Boss, I caught a virus and I'll have to stay home today.
Softens the blow of calling in sick.
Meu celular caiu na água e agora está de molho no arroz!
My phone fell in the water and now it's soaking in rice!
A humorous, literal-meets-idiomatic double entendre.
Depois dessa semana louca, só quero ficar de molho no domingo.
After this crazy week, I just want to veg out on Sunday.
Used for mental recovery rather than physical illness.
Meu carro está de molho na oficina desde segunda.
My car has been 'out of commission' at the shop since Monday.
Shows the phrase can apply to inanimate objects.
自我测试
Choose the correct verb to complete the phrase about being sick.
Eu peguei um resfriado e ___ de molho em casa.
The phrase uses the verb 'estar' (to be) to describe a current state.
Which word completes the idiom meaning 'to be resting'?
Depois da cirurgia, o João teve que ficar de ___.
'Molho' (sauce/soak) is the specific word used in this idiom.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality Scale of 'Estar de Molho'
Too common for deep slang, but used by everyone.
Tô de molho, mano.
Perfect for friends, family, and close peers.
Vou ficar de molho hoje.
Safe for work emails to explain a minor absence.
Estou de molho devido a uma gripe.
Avoid in legal or high-level academic writing.
N/A
When to say you are 'De Molho'
Physical Injury
Broken leg or sprain
Common Illness
Flu, cold, or fever
Burnout
Mental exhaustion
Repairs
Car or laptop being fixed
常见问题
10 个问题No, it's metaphorical. It refers to the way beans soak in a bowl, not a person in a tub, though the relaxation vibe is similar.
Not really. Estar de molho usually implies a longer period of recovery, like a full day or a week.
Yes, it's neutral enough for a workplace if you have a decent relationship. It sounds more natural than 'I am ill'.
Estar describes the state you are in right now. Ficar describes the transition or the requirement to stay that way, like Vou ficar de molho (I'm going to stay in).
Absolutely! If your car is in the shop, you can say Meu carro está de molho.
Yes, it is widely understood and used in both countries with the same meaning.
Slightly, because it implies you are unable to do what you want, but it's mostly seen as a necessary part of health.
People will understand you, but it usually implies you *need* the rest for a specific reason like health or stress.
You would use the imperfect tense: Eu estava de molho.
Yes, but be careful with the 'o' sound. In 'molho' (sauce/soak), the first 'o' is closed (like 'bowl').
相关表达
Recuperar as energias
Dar um tempo
Ficar na cama
De repouso
Pisar no freio
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