toque de recolher
1. An official order or law that requires people to be off the streets or indoors by a specified time, typically enforced by authorities during emergencies, protests, or in conflict zones
The government imposed a strict curfew during the pandemic, requiring all citizens to stay home after 8 PM.
O governo impôs um toque de recolher rigoroso durante a pandemia, exigindo que todos os cidadãos ficassem em casa após as 20h.
2. A regulation that requires young people to be at home by a certain time in the evening
The teenager had a 10 PM curfew on school nights.
O adolescente tinha um toque de recolher às 22h nos dias de aula.
3. Historically, a signal (such as a bell) that announced the time when people should extinguish fires and go to bed
In medieval times, the church bell served as a curfew to signal the end of the day.
Na Idade Média, o sino da igreja servia como toque de recolher para sinalizar o fim do dia.
The term gained significant prominence in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic and during periods of civil unrest in major cities. In the USA, curfews are often associated with emergency situations, civil disturbances, or parental restrictions on teenagers. The historical meaning relates to medieval Europe's 'couvre-feu' (cover fire) practice. In contemporary usage, curfews are contentious political and social issues, often debated regarding personal freedoms versus public safety.
NYC Slang
lockdown (in modern usage); curfew is standard English, less slang-specific
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