be loose

[/bi ˈluːs/]
verb phrase
estar solto; estar descontrolado; estar liberado
1. to not be firmly fastened or attached; to be unfastened
The bolt is loose and needs to be tightened.
O parafuso está solto e precisa ser apertado.
2. to be free from control or restraint; to be uncontrolled
After the fence broke, the dog was loose in the neighborhood.
Depois que a cerca quebrou, o cachorro estava solto no bairro.
3. to be relaxed or casual in manner; to be at ease
He tried to be loose and casual about the whole situation.
Ele tentou ficar descontraído e casual sobre toda a situação.
4. to be morally unrestrained or promiscuous (dated/offensive)
In old literature, characters were sometimes described as loose.
Na literatura antiga, personagens às vezes eram descritos como dissolutos.
In American English, 'be loose' in the sense of 'be relaxed' is popular in casual, informal speech, especially among younger speakers influenced by hip-hop and street culture. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'estar solto' carries both literal (unfastened) and figurative (free/uncontrolled) meanings. The term 'loose' describing immoral behavior is considered dated and potentially offensive in modern usage.
NYC Slang
be chill; be relaxed; play it loose
Synonyms / Sinônimos
be unfastenedbe detachedbe freebe relaxedbe unrestrainedbe slack
Antonyms / Antônimos
be tightbe fastenedbe attachedbe controlledbe restrainedbe confined

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
estar solto
most common usage for physical looseness or freedom
Rio de Janeiro
estar solto; estar à solta
colloquial, especially when referring to people or animals being free
São Paulo
estar solto; estar desapertado
used for both physical and figurative meanings
Portugal
estar solto; estar frouxo
frouxo emphasizes laxness or slack condition

Related Words

loosenlooseloosenesstightenfastenrestraintfreedom

Related Idioms & Phrases

break loose
let loose
run loose
on the loose
hang loose
cut loose
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