enferrujado
1. covered with or affected by rust; having oxidized due to exposure to moisture and air
The old car was completely rusted and no longer functional.
O carro antigo estava completamente enferrujado e não funcionava mais.
2. deteriorated or impaired by lack of use or practice
My Spanish is rusted from not speaking it for years.
Meu espanhol está enferrujado por não falar há anos.
In both American and Brazilian English/Portuguese contexts, 'rusted' is used literally for metal oxidation and metaphorically for skills or knowledge that have deteriorated through disuse. The metaphorical usage is particularly common in casual speech when describing someone's abilities after a long break from practice.
Related Idioms & Phrases
rusted skills - habilidades enferrujadas (skills that have deteriorated)
rusted shut - fechado/travado pela ferrugem (unable to open due to rust)
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