40 Essential Italian Idioms to Master
Level up your fluency. Explore the top 40 common idioms in Italian, complete with literal translations, real-life conversation examples, and audio playback.
In bocca al lupo
Literal Translation:"Into the wolf's mouth"
Meaning:Good luck!
In bocca al lupo per l'esame!
Good luck with the exam!
Non vedo l'ora
Literal Translation:"I don't see the hour"
Meaning:I can't wait
Non vedo l'ora di andare in Italia!
I can't wait to go to Italy!
Avere le mani in pasta
Literal Translation:"To have hands in dough"
Meaning:To be involved in many affairs
Quel politico ha le mani in pasta ovunque.
That politician is involved in everything.
Prendere due piccioni con una fava
Literal Translation:"Take two pigeons with one fava bean"
Meaning:Kill two birds with one stone
Andando a Roma ho fatto visita allo zio, prendendo due piccioni con una fava.
Going to Rome I visited my uncle, killing two birds with one stone.
Piovere a catinelle
Literal Translation:"To rain in basins"
Meaning:To rain cats and dogs
Oggi piove a catinelle, resta a casa.
Today it's raining cats and dogs, stay home.
Essere un pezzo di pane
Literal Translation:"To be a piece of bread"
Meaning:To be very kind-hearted
Marco è un pezzo di pane, aiuta sempre.
Marco is very kind-hearted, he always helps.
Mandare a quel paese
Literal Translation:"To send to that country"
Meaning:To tell someone to get lost
L'ha mandato a quel paese dopo la lite.
He told him to get lost after the argument.
Avere il dente avvelenato
Literal Translation:"To have a poisoned tooth"
Meaning:To hold a grudge
Luca ha il dente avvelenato con il collega.
Luca holds a grudge against his colleague.
Fare la gatta morta
Literal Translation:"To play the dead cat"
Meaning:To feign innocence deceitfully
Non fare la gatta morta con me!
Don't play innocent with me!
Toccarsi le palle
Literal Translation:"To touch one's balls"
Meaning:To knock on wood for luck
Toccati le palle per scaramanzia!
Knock on wood to ward off bad luck!
Capitare a fagiolo
Literal Translation:"To land on the bean"
Meaning:To turn up at exactly the right moment; to be just what was needed.
Il tuo aiuto è capitato a fagiolo, stavo per rinunciare.
Your help came at just the right moment, I was about to give up.
Mettere i puntini sulle i
Literal Translation:"To put the dots on the i's"
Meaning:To clear a matter up down to the last detail, leaving no ambiguity.
Prima di firmare il contratto mettiamo i puntini sulle i.
Before we sign the contract, let's clear up every last detail.
Rompere il ghiaccio
Literal Translation:"To break the ice"
Meaning:To ease the awkwardness at the start of a conversation or in a new group.
Marco ha raccontato una barzelletta per rompere il ghiaccio.
Marco told a joke to break the ice.
Avere un chiodo fisso
Literal Translation:"To have a fixed nail"
Meaning:To be obsessed with one idea that will not leave your head.
Da mesi ha un chiodo fisso: aprire un ristorante.
For months they have had one obsession: opening a restaurant.
Cadere dalle nuvole
Literal Translation:"To fall from the clouds"
Meaning:To be completely taken aback by news you knew nothing about.
Quando mi hanno detto del trasferimento sono caduto dalle nuvole.
When they told me about the transfer I was completely taken aback.
Dare buca
Literal Translation:"To give a hole"
Meaning:To stand someone up; to fail to show up for an arranged meeting.
Mi ha dato buca all'ultimo momento senza avvisare.
They stood me up at the last minute without a word.
Fare un buco nell'acqua
Literal Translation:"To make a hole in the water"
Meaning:To achieve nothing at all; for an effort to end in complete failure.
Abbiamo lavorato un mese al progetto e abbiamo fatto un buco nell'acqua.
We worked on the project for a month and got nowhere at all.
Non avere peli sulla lingua
Literal Translation:"To have no hairs on the tongue"
Meaning:To speak your mind bluntly, without softening anything.
La nostra direttrice non ha peli sulla lingua: dice sempre quello che pensa.
Our director doesn't mince words: she always says what she thinks.
Avere le braccine corte
Literal Translation:"To have short little arms"
Meaning:To be stingy; to always avoid reaching for your wallet.
Al ristorante Luca ha sempre le braccine corte.
At the restaurant Luca is always slow to reach for his wallet.
Mangiare la foglia
Literal Translation:"To eat the leaf"
Meaning:To catch on to what is really going on; to see through a trick.
Volevano farmi una sorpresa, ma ho mangiato la foglia subito.
They wanted to surprise me, but I caught on straight away.
Arrampicarsi sugli specchi
Literal Translation:"To climb up mirrors"
Meaning:To grasp at far-fetched excuses to defend an indefensible position.
Di fronte alle prove si è arrampicato sugli specchi per giustificarsi.
Faced with the evidence, they grasped at any excuse to justify themselves.
Prendere lucciole per lanterne
Literal Translation:"To take fireflies for lanterns"
Meaning:To mistake one thing for another entirely; to get things badly wrong.
Chi legge solo i titoli dei giornali prende lucciole per lanterne.
Anyone who only reads the headlines gets things badly wrong.
Costare un occhio della testa
Literal Translation:"To cost an eye out of the head"
Meaning:To be extremely expensive; to cost a fortune.
Quell'appartamento in centro costa un occhio della testa.
That flat in the centre costs a fortune.
Togliersi un sasso dalla scarpa
Literal Translation:"To take a stone out of one's shoe"
Meaning:To finally get something off your chest, often an old grudge.
Dopo anni di silenzio si è tolta un sasso dalla scarpa e ha detto tutto.
After years of silence she got it off her chest and said everything.
Gettare la spugna
Literal Translation:"To throw in the sponge"
Meaning:To give up and admit defeat.
Dopo tre tentativi falliti ha gettato la spugna.
After three failed attempts they gave up.
Farne di tutti i colori
Literal Translation:"To do them in all the colours"
Meaning:To get up to all sorts of mischief.
Da ragazzo ne ha fatte di tutti i colori.
As a boy he got up to all sorts of mischief.
Prendere in giro
Literal Translation:"To take around"
Meaning:To make fun of someone, or to pull their leg.
Non prendermi in giro, dimmi la verità!
Don't pull my leg, tell me the truth!
Avere la testa tra le nuvole
Literal Translation:"To have one's head among the clouds"
Meaning:To be distracted and daydreaming instead of paying attention.
Oggi hai la testa tra le nuvole, non ascolti niente.
Your head is in the clouds today, you're not listening to anything.
Essere acqua e sapone
Literal Translation:"To be water and soap"
Meaning:To be fresh-faced, natural and unaffected, with no artifice.
È una ragazza acqua e sapone, senza trucco e senza pose.
She's a fresh-faced girl, no make-up and no posing.
Perdere la bussola
Literal Translation:"To lose the compass"
Meaning:To lose your bearings or your self-control.
Con tutto questo stress rischio di perdere la bussola.
With all this stress I risk losing my bearings.
Avere le mani bucate
Literal Translation:"To have holed hands"
Meaning:To spend money faster than you earn it; to be a spendthrift.
Non riesce a risparmiare niente, ha le mani bucate.
They can't save a thing, money runs through their fingers.
Fare orecchie da mercante
Literal Translation:"To make merchant's ears"
Meaning:To pretend not to hear something you would rather ignore.
Quando gli chiedo di pagare fa orecchie da mercante.
When I ask him to pay, he pretends not to hear.
Vedere il bicchiere mezzo pieno
Literal Translation:"To see the glass half full"
Meaning:To look on the bright side of a situation.
Cerchiamo di vedere il bicchiere mezzo pieno: abbiamo imparato molto.
Let's look on the bright side: we learned a lot.
Rimanere a bocca asciutta
Literal Translation:"To be left with a dry mouth"
Meaning:To end up with nothing after expecting to get something.
I biglietti sono finiti e siamo rimasti a bocca asciutta.
The tickets sold out and we ended up with nothing.
Essere al settimo cielo
Literal Translation:"To be in the seventh heaven"
Meaning:To be overjoyed; to be on cloud nine.
Da quando ha ricevuto l'offerta di lavoro è al settimo cielo.
Ever since they got the job offer they've been over the moon.
Tirare il freno a mano
Literal Translation:"To pull the handbrake"
Meaning:To slow something down abruptly; to put the brakes on a plan.
Le spese crescevano troppo e abbiamo dovuto tirare il freno a mano.
Costs were growing too fast and we had to put on the brakes.
Saltare di palo in frasca
Literal Translation:"To jump from the pole to the branch"
Meaning:To jump from one subject to a completely unrelated one while talking.
Non ti seguo, salti di palo in frasca ogni due minuti.
I can't follow you, you jump from one subject to another every two minutes.
Essere in una botte di ferro
Literal Translation:"To be in an iron barrel"
Meaning:To be completely safe, with nothing left to worry about.
Con un contratto così sei in una botte di ferro.
With a contract like that you're completely safe.
Far prendere un colpo
Literal Translation:"To make someone take a blow"
Meaning:To give someone a terrible fright.
Non entrare così di sorpresa, mi fai prendere un colpo!
Don't come in like that out of nowhere, you'll give me a heart attack!
Mettere il carro davanti ai buoi
Literal Translation:"To put the cart before the oxen"
Meaning:To do things in the wrong order, starting from the end.
Vuoi assumere personale prima ancora di avere clienti? Metti il carro davanti ai buoi.
You want to hire staff before you even have clients? That's putting the cart before the horse.
Avere il pelo sullo stomaco
Literal Translation:"To have hair on one's stomach"
Meaning:To be ruthless, ready to do anything without scruples.
Per licenziare tutti così bisogna avere il pelo sullo stomaco.
To lay everyone off like that you have to be ruthless.
Non valere un soldo bucato
Literal Translation:"Not to be worth a holed coin"
Meaning:To be completely worthless.
Quella promessa non vale un soldo bucato.
That promise isn't worth a thing.
Tirare le cuoia
Literal Translation:"To pull the hides"
Meaning:To die (a blunt, colloquial expression).
Il vecchio motore della macchina ha finalmente tirato le cuoia.
The car's old engine has finally given up the ghost.
Essere la pecora nera
Literal Translation:"To be the black sheep"
Meaning:To be the odd one out in a family or group, seen as a disgrace.
In una famiglia di medici, lui è la pecora nera: fa il musicista.
In a family of doctors, he's the black sheep: he's a musician.
Avere gli occhi foderati di prosciutto
Literal Translation:"To have one's eyes lined with ham"
Meaning:To fail to see what is plainly in front of you.
Le chiavi erano sul tavolo: hai gli occhi foderati di prosciutto!
The keys were on the table: are you blind?
Salvare capra e cavoli
Literal Translation:"To save both the goat and the cabbages"
Meaning:To satisfy two conflicting demands at once, losing nothing.
Con questo compromesso salviamo capra e cavoli.
With this compromise we keep everyone happy.
Metterci una pietra sopra
Literal Translation:"To put a stone over it"
Meaning:To put a matter behind you for good and stop going back to it.
È stata una brutta storia, mettiamoci una pietra sopra.
It was an ugly business, let's put it behind us for good.
Andare a gonfie vele
Literal Translation:"To go with full sails"
Meaning:To be going extremely well, without a hitch.
Il nuovo negozio va a gonfie vele.
The new shop is doing extremely well.
Fare di tutta l'erba un fascio
Literal Translation:"To make one bundle of all the grass"
Meaning:To lump everything together and judge it all the same way.
Non fare di tutta l'erba un fascio: non tutti i colleghi sono così.
Don't lump them all together: not all your colleagues are like that.
Trovare il pelo nell'uovo
Literal Translation:"To find the hair in the egg"
Meaning:To nitpick, finding fault with even the smallest detail.
Trova sempre il pelo nell'uovo in ogni relazione che scrivo.
They always find fault with the smallest detail in every report I write.
Cercare un ago in un pagliaio
Literal Translation:"To look for a needle in a haystack"
Meaning:To search for something practically impossible to find.
Ritrovare quel file senza il nome è come cercare un ago in un pagliaio.
Finding that file without its name is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Essere di manica larga
Literal Translation:"To be of wide sleeve"
Meaning:To be lenient and easy-going in judging or marking others.
Quel professore è di manica larga, boccia raramente.
That professor is lenient, he rarely fails anyone.
Dormire come un ghiro
Literal Translation:"To sleep like a dormouse"
Meaning:To sleep deeply and for a long time, undisturbed by anything.
Dopo il viaggio ho dormito come un ghiro fino a mezzogiorno.
After the trip I slept like a log until midday.
Sputare il rospo
Literal Translation:"To spit out the toad"
Meaning:To finally say the uncomfortable thing you have been holding back.
Dai, sputa il rospo: cosa è successo davvero ieri?
Come on, out with it: what really happened yesterday?
Tornare coi piedi per terra
Literal Translation:"To come back with one's feet on the ground"
Meaning:To come back to reality after getting carried away.
Bel sogno, ma adesso torniamo coi piedi per terra e guardiamo i numeri.
Nice dream, but now let's come back down to earth and look at the numbers.
Vuotare il sacco
Literal Translation:"To empty the sack"
Meaning:To tell everything you know, holding nothing back.
Alla fine ha vuotato il sacco e ha raccontato tutto ai colleghi.
In the end they came clean and told their colleagues everything.
Avere le mani legate
Literal Translation:"To have one's hands tied"
Meaning:To be unable to act because of rules or circumstances beyond your control.
Vorrei aiutarti, ma con questo regolamento ho le mani legate.
I'd like to help you, but with these rules my hands are tied.
Alzare il gomito
Literal Translation:"To raise the elbow"
Meaning:To drink too much alcohol.
Ieri sera ha alzato un po' troppo il gomito.
Last night they had one too many.
Mordersi le mani
Literal Translation:"To bite one's own hands"
Meaning:To bitterly regret a missed chance or a bad decision.
Se non compri adesso, dopo ti mordi le mani.
If you don't buy now, you'll be kicking yourself later.
Essere in alto mare
Literal Translation:"To be on the high seas"
Meaning:To be nowhere near finished; for a job to be far from ready.
La consegna è venerdì, ma siamo ancora in alto mare.
The deadline is Friday, but we're nowhere near finished.
Far venire il latte alle ginocchia
Literal Translation:"To make the milk come to one's knees"
Meaning:To be excruciatingly boring or tiresome.
Quel film mi ha fatto venire il latte alle ginocchia.
That film bored me to tears.
Menare il can per l'aia
Literal Translation:"To lead the dog around the threshing floor"
Meaning:To beat about the bush, dragging things out instead of getting to the point.
Smettila di menare il can per l'aia e dimmi la cifra.
Stop beating about the bush and tell me the figure.
Prendere un granchio
Literal Translation:"To catch a crab"
Meaning:To make a blunder based on a wrong assumption.
Pensavo fosse sua sorella: ho preso un granchio clamoroso.
I thought she was his sister: I made a spectacular blunder.
Capire lucciola per lanterna
Literal Translation:"To understand a firefly as a lantern"
Meaning:To misunderstand completely, getting the wrong end of the stick.
Hai capito lucciola per lanterna: non ho detto questo.
You've got the wrong end of the stick: that's not what I said.
Cascare dal pero
Literal Translation:"To fall off the pear tree"
Meaning:To act astonished at something everyone else already knew.
Lo sapevano tutti, non cascare dal pero adesso.
Everyone knew, don't act so astonished now.
Rimanere di stucco
Literal Translation:"To be left made of plaster"
Meaning:To be left dumbfounded, frozen with surprise.
Quando ha annunciato le dimissioni siamo rimasti di stucco.
When they announced their resignation we were left dumbfounded.
Fare un quarantotto
Literal Translation:"To make a forty-eight"
Meaning:To cause an uproar or complete chaos (a nod to the revolutions of 1848).
Se lo scoprono i vicini succede un quarantotto.
If the neighbours find out, all hell will break loose.
Essere al verde
Literal Translation:"To be at the green"
Meaning:To be completely broke, with no money left.
A fine mese sono sempre al verde.
At the end of the month I'm always broke.
Lasciare perdere
Literal Translation:"To let it go lost"
Meaning:To drop a matter and stop bothering with it.
Lascia perdere, non vale la pena discutere con lui.
Let it go, it's not worth arguing with him.
Fare una figuraccia
Literal Translation:"To make a bad figure"
Meaning:To embarrass yourself badly in front of others.
Ho dimenticato il suo nome e ho fatto una figuraccia.
I forgot their name and completely embarrassed myself.
Avere il coltello dalla parte del manico
Literal Translation:"To hold the knife by the handle"
Meaning:To be in the stronger position and hold all the cards.
In questa trattativa sono loro ad avere il coltello dalla parte del manico.
In this negotiation they're the ones holding all the cards.
Mettere la testa a posto
Literal Translation:"To put one's head in place"
Meaning:To settle down and start behaving sensibly.
Dopo la nascita del figlio ha messo la testa a posto.
After his son was born he settled down.
Tenere d'occhio
Literal Translation:"To keep by eye"
Meaning:To keep an eye on someone or something; to watch closely.
Tieni d'occhio la pentola mentre rispondo al telefono.
Keep an eye on the pot while I answer the phone.
Pagarne le conseguenze
Literal Translation:"To pay the consequences of it"
Meaning:To bear the fallout of your own choices.
Hai firmato senza leggere e ora ne paghi le conseguenze.
You signed without reading and now you're paying for it.
Fare spallucce
Literal Translation:"To make little shoulders"
Meaning:To shrug something off as if it were no concern of yours.
Gli ho spiegato il problema e lui ha solo fatto spallucce.
I explained the problem and they just shrugged it off.
Rompersi le scatole
Literal Translation:"To break one's boxes"
Meaning:To be thoroughly fed up with something (colloquial).
Mi sono rotto le scatole di aspettare ogni volta.
I'm fed up with waiting every single time.
Toccare il cielo con un dito
Literal Translation:"To touch the sky with a finger"
Meaning:To feel a moment of pure, overwhelming happiness.
Quando ho saputo di essere stata ammessa ho toccato il cielo con un dito.
When I heard I'd been accepted I was in absolute heaven.
Farsi in quattro
Literal Translation:"To make oneself into four"
Meaning:To go out of your way for someone, doing far more than expected.
Si è fatta in quattro per organizzare la festa.
She went out of her way to organise the party.
Avere la puzza sotto il naso
Literal Translation:"To have a stink under one's nose"
Meaning:To be snobbish and look down on everyone.
Non sopporto quel tipo, ha sempre la puzza sotto il naso.
I can't stand that guy, he always looks down on everyone.
Lasciare a desiderare
Literal Translation:"To leave to be desired"
Meaning:To fall short of what it should be; to leave a lot to be desired.
Il servizio dell'hotel lascia molto a desiderare.
The hotel's service leaves a lot to be desired.
Tirarsi indietro
Literal Translation:"To pull oneself back"
Meaning:To back out of a commitment at the decisive moment.
Avevamo un accordo e adesso si tira indietro.
We had a deal and now they're backing out.
Fare da cavia
Literal Translation:"To act as a guinea pig"
Meaning:To be the first to try something untested, for the sake of others.
Ho fatto da cavia per la nuova versione dell'app.
I was the guinea pig for the new version of the app.
Tenere il piede in due scarpe
Literal Translation:"To keep one foot in two shoes"
Meaning:To keep two options open at once without committing to either.
Non puoi tenere il piede in due scarpe, devi scegliere.
You can't keep both options open, you have to choose.
Fare buon viso a cattivo gioco
Literal Translation:"To put a good face on a bad game"
Meaning:To put a brave face on an unpleasant situation you cannot change.
Il trasferimento non gli piaceva, ma ha fatto buon viso a cattivo gioco.
They didn't like the transfer, but they put a brave face on it.
Cadere in piedi
Literal Translation:"To land on one's feet"
Meaning:To come out of a difficult situation unharmed, as if by luck.
Perde il lavoro e in due settimane ne trova uno migliore: cade sempre in piedi.
They lose a job and find a better one in two weeks: they always land on their feet.
Essere fuori di testa
Literal Translation:"To be out of one's head"
Meaning:To be out of your mind; to behave in a completely crazy way.
Guidare a quella velocità sotto la pioggia? Sei fuori di testa!
Driving that fast in the rain? You're out of your mind!
Prendere la palla al balzo
Literal Translation:"To catch the ball on the bounce"
Meaning:To seize an opportunity the moment it appears.
Hanno offerto un corso gratuito e ho preso la palla al balzo.
They offered a free course and I jumped at the chance.
Essere un libro aperto
Literal Translation:"To be an open book"
Meaning:To be completely transparent, with nothing hidden.
Con me è un libro aperto, capisco subito quando è preoccupata.
With me she's an open book, I can tell straight away when she's worried.
Fare la parte del leone
Literal Translation:"To take the lion's part"
Meaning:To take the largest share, or to play the dominant role.
Nel bilancio la parte del leone la fanno gli stipendi.
In the budget, salaries take the lion's share.
Mandare giù il boccone
Literal Translation:"To swallow the mouthful"
Meaning:To swallow an insult or a setback without protesting.
Ha dovuto mandare giù il boccone e continuare a lavorare con loro.
They had to swallow it and go on working with them.
Restare a mani vuote
Literal Translation:"To be left with empty hands"
Meaning:To get nothing at all in the end.
Hanno diviso i premi e noi siamo restati a mani vuote.
They handed out the prizes and we were left with nothing.
Mettere le carte in tavola
Literal Translation:"To put the cards on the table"
Meaning:To be completely open about your intentions and conditions.
Mettiamo le carte in tavola: quanto siete disposti a pagare?
Let's put our cards on the table: how much are you willing to pay?
Sciogliere il nodo
Literal Translation:"To untie the knot"
Meaning:To resolve the crux of a problem that was holding everything up.
Bisogna sciogliere il nodo dei finanziamenti prima di partire.
We need to untangle the funding question before we start.
Tagliare la testa al toro
Literal Translation:"To cut off the bull's head"
Meaning:To settle a drawn-out argument with one decisive move.
Per tagliare la testa al toro, paghiamo metà ciascuno.
To settle it once and for all, let's each pay half.
Mettere i piedi in testa
Literal Translation:"To put one's feet on someone's head"
Meaning:To walk all over someone who lets themselves be pushed around.
Se non reagisci, ti mettono i piedi in testa.
If you don't push back, they'll walk all over you.
Farsi strada
Literal Translation:"To make oneself a road"
Meaning:To work your way up and make a name for yourself.
Si è fatta strada nel settore partendo da zero.
She worked her way up in the industry starting from nothing.
Avere la febbre da cavallo
Literal Translation:"To have a horse fever"
Meaning:To be running a very high temperature.
Resto a casa, ho la febbre da cavallo.
I'm staying home, I've got a raging temperature.
Rimettersi in sesto
Literal Translation:"To put oneself back in order"
Meaning:To get back on your feet after an illness or a rough patch.
Dopo l'influenza ci ho messo una settimana per rimettermi in sesto.
After the flu it took me a week to get back on my feet.
Fare i conti senza l'oste
Literal Translation:"To do the sums without the innkeeper"
Meaning:To make plans without allowing for someone whose agreement you need.
Avete deciso le date senza chiedere al cliente: avete fatto i conti senza l'oste.
You set the dates without asking the client: you reckoned without your host.
Essere una mina vagante
Literal Translation:"To be a drifting mine"
Meaning:To be dangerously unpredictable; a problem waiting to go off.
In riunione è una mina vagante: non sai mai cosa dirà.
In meetings they're a loose cannon: you never know what they'll say.
Partire in quarta
Literal Translation:"To set off in fourth gear"
Meaning:To rush headlong into something without thinking it through.
Non partire in quarta, leggiamo prima le condizioni.
Don't go rushing in, let's read the terms first.
Mettere la mano sul fuoco
Literal Translation:"To put one's hand in the fire"
Meaning:To vouch for something absolutely, staking your own word on it.
Ci metto la mano sul fuoco: lei non c'entra nulla.
I'd stake my life on it: she has nothing to do with this.
Tirare l'acqua al proprio mulino
Literal Translation:"To draw the water to one's own mill"
Meaning:To steer every situation towards your own advantage.
In ogni discussione tira l'acqua al proprio mulino.
In every discussion they turn things to their own advantage.
Crollare dal sonno
Literal Translation:"To collapse from sleep"
Meaning:To be so sleepy you can barely stay upright.
Vado a letto, sto crollando dal sonno.
I'm off to bed, I can barely keep my eyes open.
Avere un diavolo per capello
Literal Translation:"To have a devil for each hair"
Meaning:To be absolutely furious and best left alone.
Non parlargli adesso, ha un diavolo per capello.
Don't talk to them right now, they're absolutely furious.
Prendere cantonate
Literal Translation:"To take street corners"
Meaning:To make bad misjudgements, getting things badly wrong.
Giudicando le persone dall'aspetto si prendono grosse cantonate.
Judging people by appearances leads to serious misjudgements.
Avere le carte in regola
Literal Translation:"To have one's papers in order"
Meaning:To have all the right credentials for something.
Ha le carte in regola per dirigere il reparto.
They have all the right credentials to run the department.
Non cavare un ragno dal buco
Literal Translation:"Not to get a spider out of the hole"
Meaning:To get absolutely nowhere despite all your efforts.
Ho chiamato l'assistenza tutto il giorno senza cavare un ragno dal buco.
I called support all day and got absolutely nowhere.
Perdere il filo
Literal Translation:"To lose the thread"
Meaning:To lose track of what you were saying or following.
Scusa, mi hai interrotto e ho perso il filo.
Sorry, you interrupted me and I lost my thread.
Fare la voce grossa
Literal Translation:"To make a big voice"
Meaning:To raise your voice to impose your will or intimidate.
Non serve fare la voce grossa, parliamone con calma.
There's no need to raise your voice, let's talk it through calmly.
Vederci chiaro
Literal Translation:"To see clearly into it"
Meaning:To get to the bottom of a murky situation.
Su questi conti voglio vederci chiaro.
I want to get to the bottom of these accounts.
Darci un taglio
Literal Translation:"To give it a cut"
Meaning:To put a stop to something once and for all.
Con queste discussioni dobbiamo darci un taglio.
We have to put a stop to these arguments once and for all.
Tenere duro
Literal Translation:"To hold hard"
Meaning:To hang on and not give in when things get hard.
Manca poco alla fine del progetto, teniamo duro.
The project is almost over, let's hang in there.
Essere nel pallone
Literal Translation:"To be in the balloon"
Meaning:To be so flustered you can no longer think straight.
All'esame orale sono andato nel pallone e ho dimenticato tutto.
In the oral exam I panicked and forgot everything.
Alzare le spalle
Literal Translation:"To raise the shoulders"
Meaning:To shrug, showing indifference or that you have no idea.
Gli ho chiesto perché e ha solo alzato le spalle.
I asked them why and they just shrugged.
Lasciarsi andare
Literal Translation:"To let oneself go"
Meaning:To stop looking after yourself, or to let your feelings out freely.
Dopo il trasloco si è lasciato andare e non esce più di casa.
After the move they let themselves go and no longer leave the house.
Mettersi nei panni di qualcuno
Literal Translation:"To put oneself in someone's clothes"
Meaning:To imagine yourself in someone else's situation.
Mettiti nei miei panni: cosa avresti fatto tu?
Put yourself in my shoes: what would you have done?
Passare sopra a qualcosa
Literal Translation:"To pass over something"
Meaning:To let something go instead of holding it against someone.
Questa volta ci passo sopra, ma non ripeterlo.
I'll let it go this time, but don't do it again.
Tirare le somme
Literal Translation:"To draw the sums"
Meaning:To sum up and draw conclusions at the end of something.
A fine anno tiriamo le somme e decidiamo come continuare.
At the end of the year we sum things up and decide how to go on.
Essere a cavallo
Literal Translation:"To be on horseback"
Meaning:To be home and dry, with the hardest part already behind you.
Se otteniamo il permesso, siamo a cavallo.
If we get the permit, we're home and dry.
Darla vinta
Literal Translation:"To give it as won"
Meaning:To let someone have their way and stop arguing.
Non gliela do vinta così facilmente.
I'm not going to let them have their way that easily.
Fare un salto nel buio
Literal Translation:"To take a leap in the dark"
Meaning:To take a risky decision with no idea how it will turn out.
Cambiare settore adesso sarebbe un salto nel buio.
Changing sector now would be a leap in the dark.
Pettinare le bambole
Literal Translation:"To comb dolls' hair"
Meaning:To do trivial, pointless work; used to stress that a job is serious.
Qui non si pettinano le bambole: si lavora sul serio.
This isn't playtime here: we work seriously.
Masticare amaro
Literal Translation:"To chew bitter"
Meaning:To be left with a bitter taste after a disappointment.
Dopo quella sconfitta la squadra ha masticato amaro per settimane.
After that defeat the team was left with a bitter taste for weeks.
Avere polso
Literal Translation:"To have wrist"
Meaning:To have a firm hand and natural authority over others.
Serve un capo che abbia polso con questo gruppo.
This group needs a boss with a firm hand.
Prendere campo
Literal Translation:"To take field"
Meaning:For an idea or practice to spread and gain ground.
Il lavoro da remoto ha preso campo negli ultimi anni.
Remote work has gained ground in recent years.
Gridare al lupo al lupo
Literal Translation:"To cry wolf, wolf"
Meaning:To raise false alarms so often that nobody believes you any more.
Ha gridato al lupo al lupo troppe volte e ora nessuno lo ascolta.
They cried wolf too many times and now nobody listens.
Fare piazza pulita
Literal Translation:"To make a clean square"
Meaning:To sweep everything away and leave nothing behind.
I ragazzi hanno fatto piazza pulita di tutti i dolci.
The kids polished off every last sweet.
Essere sul pezzo
Literal Translation:"To be on the piece"
Meaning:To be on the ball and up to date with what is happening.
La nostra redazione è sempre sul pezzo.
Our newsroom is always on the ball.
Mettere acqua sul fuoco
Literal Translation:"To put water on the fire"
Meaning:To calm a heated situation down.
Ha messo acqua sul fuoco prima che la lite degenerasse.
They calmed things down before the argument got out of hand.
Fare da paciere
Literal Translation:"To act as a peacemaker"
Meaning:To step in between two sides to reconcile them.
Ogni volta che litigano, tocca a me fare da paciere.
Every time they argue, it falls to me to play peacemaker.
Caderci come un pero
Literal Translation:"To fall for it like a pear tree"
Meaning:To fall for a trick completely, without suspecting a thing.
Gli abbiamo detto che era una vincita e ci è caduto come un pero.
We told them they'd won and they fell for it completely.
Battere il ferro finché è caldo
Literal Translation:"To strike the iron while it is hot"
Meaning:To act while conditions are still favourable.
Il cliente è interessato: battiamo il ferro finché è caldo.
The client is interested: let's strike while the iron is hot.
Toccare un tasto dolente
Literal Translation:"To touch a painful key"
Meaning:To bring up a subject that is painful for someone.
Parlando di soldi hai toccato un tasto dolente.
By bringing up money you touched a sore point.
Mandare in fumo
Literal Translation:"To send up in smoke"
Meaning:To ruin plans or efforts so that nothing is left of them.
Un errore all'ultimo momento ha mandato in fumo mesi di lavoro.
One last-minute mistake sent months of work up in smoke.
Stare sulle sue
Literal Translation:"To stay on one's own things"
Meaning:To keep to yourself and stay aloof from others.
È simpatica, ma in ufficio sta sulle sue.
She's pleasant, but at the office she keeps to herself.
Vederci doppio
Literal Translation:"To see double"
Meaning:To see double from exhaustion or too much drink.
Sono così stanco che ci vedo doppio.
I'm so tired I'm seeing double.
Far finta di niente
Literal Translation:"To pretend nothing"
Meaning:To act as though nothing has happened.
Ha rotto il vaso e ha fatto finta di niente.
They broke the vase and acted as if nothing had happened.
Tenere testa
Literal Translation:"To hold head"
Meaning:To stand up to someone stronger without backing down.
È l'unico che sa tenere testa al direttore.
They're the only one who can stand up to the director.
Stringere i denti
Literal Translation:"To clench one's teeth"
Meaning:To grit your teeth and push through a hard stretch.
Ancora due mesi difficili: dobbiamo stringere i denti.
Two more hard months: we have to grit our teeth.
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