Italian idioms

A wish of luck before an exam or an ordeal — literally «into the wolf’s mouth».

English: good luck, break a leg

In bocca al lupo per l’esame! — Crepi!Good luck with the exam! — Thanks!

The set reply is crepi, «may it die» — the wolf, that is. Answering grazie is held to bring bad luck.

You are impatient for something to happen — literally «I don’t see the hour».

English: I can’t wait

Non vedo l’ora di rivederti.I can’t wait to see you again.

Followed by di and the infinitive, where English has «to».

Something is tedious or annoying — literally «what balls».

English: what a drag, what a pain

Altre due ore di riunione? Che palle.Another two hours of meeting? What a drag.

Colloquial and coarse — among friends, not at the office.

A wish you do not really expect to come true — on its own the word means «maybe».

English: if only!

Vinci tu? — Magari!Are you going to win? — If only!

As an exclamation it expresses no doubt at all, only longing: you would love it, and you are not counting on it.

A shrug in one syllable: you have no idea.

English: no idea, dunno

Quando arriva? — Boh.When’s he getting here? — No idea.

A warm reply to thanks, brushing it aside — literally «imagine».

English: don’t mention it

Grazie mille! — Figurati.Thanks ever so much! — Don’t mention it.

To someone you address formally: si figuri.

Relief that something has turned out well — literally «less bad».

English: thank goodness

Meno male che hai chiamato.Thank goodness you rang.

A horrified refusal of what has just been suggested — literally «for charity’s sake».

English: heaven forbid

Guidare con questo tempo? Per carità.Drive in this weather? Heaven forbid.

Something must be kept secret — literally «water in the mouth».

English: mum’s the word

È una sorpresa: acqua in bocca.It’s a surprise, so mum’s the word.

With a mouthful of water nobody can talk.

It does not matter — literally «it does nothing».

English: never mind

Scusa il ritardo. — Non fa niente.Sorry I’m late. — Never mind.

Estimated without measuring or counting — literally «by eye».

English: at a rough guess

A occhio saranno cento persone.At a rough guess there are a hundred people.

Very quickly and with no fuss — literally «in four and four make eight».

English: in no time

Preparò la cena in quattro e quattr’otto.He had dinner on the table in no time.

From schoolroom sums: done in the time it takes to say «four and four, eight».

Simple and informal, without ceremony — literally «in the good way».

English: no-frills, nothing fancy

Una cena alla buona, senza inviti.A simple supper, nothing formal.

To have a short, relaxed chat — literally «to make four chats».

English: to have a natter

Passa quando vuoi, facciamo quattro chiacchiere.Drop by whenever you like and we’ll have a natter.

The «four» is not a number here; it just means «a few».

Something has no bearing on the matter — literally «it doesn’t go in there».

English: it has nothing to do with it

Il prezzo non c’entra niente.The price has nothing to do with it.

entrarci is a verb in its own right: «to have to do with».

You take back what you have just said — literally «as if not said».

English: forget I said anything

Se ti dà fastidio, come non detto.If it bothers you, forget I said anything.

Things are falling apart — literally «rolling».

English: to go to rack and ruin

Con quella decisione andò tutto a rotoli.After that decision everything went to rack and ruin.

Always with andare.

There is no doubt about it — literally «it doesn’t rain on it».

English: no two ways about it

È il migliore del gruppo, su questo non ci piove.He’s the best in the group, no two ways about it.

An exclamation of amazement — literally «to the face».

English: blimey!

Ha finito in due ore? Alla faccia!He finished in two hours? Blimey!

Rounds off a vague list, or shrugs off a question — literally «what do I know of it».

English: or whatever, what do I know

Prendi un dolce, un gelato, che ne so.Have a pudding, an ice cream, whatever.

Said ironically: as always — literally «just for a change».

English: for a change (ironic)

È in ritardo, tanto per cambiare.He’s late, for a change.

English uses exactly the same irony: the point is that nothing has changed.

A promise to return a favour — literally «to good giving back».

English: I owe you one

Grazie dell’aiuto, a buon rendere.Thanks for the help, I owe you one.

To meddle in other people’s business — literally «to put the nose (in)».

English: to poke your nose in

Mette il naso in ogni cosa.He pokes his nose into everything.

To be involved in many affairs, often behind the scenes — literally «to have your hands in the dough».

English: to have a finger in every pie

Ha le mani in pasta in mezza città.He’s got a finger in every pie across half the city.

A short walk — literally «two steps».

English: a stroll

Andiamo a fare due passi.Let’s go for a stroll.

With fare it is a walk; a due passi means «very close by».

A great deal of something — literally «a sack».

English: loads, heaps

Ho un sacco di cose da fare.I’ve got loads to do.

Mild surprise or annoyance, in its polite form.

English: what on earth

Che caspita stai facendo?What on earth are you doing?

The harmless stand-in for a coarser exclamation.

At the very least — literally «as a minimum».

English: at the very least

Come minimo ci vogliono due ore.It takes two hours at the very least.

What has just been said makes this even more true — literally «with greater reason».

English: all the more reason

Se non viene lui, a maggior ragione resto anch’io.If he’s not coming, all the more reason for me to stay as well.

To start working — literally «to put yourself to work».

English: to get down to work

Mettiamoci al lavoro, è tardi.Let’s get down to work, it’s late.

To review where things stand before going on — literally «to make the point».

English: to take stock

Facciamo il punto della situazione.Let’s take stock of where we are.

From navigation: working out a ship’s position on the chart.

Looking a long way ahead — literally «at long term».

English: in the long run

A lungo termine conviene a tutti.In the long run it pays off for everyone.

To help — literally «to give a hand».

English: to give someone a hand

Mi dai una mano con questi scatoloni?Can you give me a hand with these boxes?

To make a concession to someone — literally «to come towards».

English: to meet someone halfway

Ci vennero incontro sul prezzo.They met us halfway on the price.

In every detail — literally «by thread and by mark».

English: chapter and verse, in minute detail

Raccontò tutto per filo e per segno.He told us everything in minute detail.

From the workshop: the stretched thread and the scored line a craftsman works to.

Broadly, subject to the details — literally «on the line of the maximum».

English: in principle, broadly speaking

In linea di massima siamo d’accordo.In principle we agree.

To put something in writing so it is binding — literally «to put black on white».

English: to put it in writing

Mettiamo tutto nero su bianco.Let’s put everything in writing.

To add everything up and draw conclusions at the end — literally «to pull the sums».

English: to tot it all up, to draw conclusions

Alla fine dell’anno si tirano le somme.At the end of the year you tot it all up.

To have everything something requires — literally «to have your papers in order».

English: to tick all the boxes

Ha tutte le carte in regola per quel posto.He ticks every box for that job.

To make a real effort — literally «to give yourself something to do».

English: to get stuck in

Si diede da fare e finì in tempo.He got stuck in and finished on time.

The mood is wrong for something — literally «it isn’t air».

English: it’s not the right moment

Oggi non è aria per chiedere l’aumento.Today’s not the day to ask for a pay rise.

To hand a task on to someone else — literally «to pass the ball».

English: to hand it over

Passò la palla al collega e uscì.He handed it over to his colleague and left.

To be at stake or under discussion — literally «to be in the dance».

English: to be at stake

C’è in ballo il contratto di tre anni.The three-year contract is at stake.

To take charge of something — literally «to take in hand».

English: to take charge of

Prese in mano la trattativa e la chiuse.He took charge of the negotiation and closed the deal.

Without hesitating or checking — literally «with closed eyes».

English: with your eyes shut, implicitly

Mi fiderei di lui a occhi chiusi.I’d trust him implicitly.

To act while the opportunity lasts — literally «to beat the iron while it is hot».

English: to strike while the iron is hot

Chiamali oggi: bisogna battere il ferro finché è caldo.Ring them today: you have to strike while the iron is hot.

To do everything you can — literally «to do the possible».

English: to do your best

Faremo il possibile per finire domani.We’ll do our best to finish tomorrow.

To go extremely well — literally «to go with swollen sails».

English: to go swimmingly, to do a roaring trade

Il negozio va a gonfie vele.The shop is doing a roaring trade.

To make everything absolutely clear — literally «to put the little dots on the i’s».

English: to dot the i’s and cross the t’s

Prima di firmare mettiamo i puntini sulle i.Before we sign, let’s dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

Capable and quick-witted — literally «in leg».

English: on the ball, capable

È una ragazza molto in gamba.She’s a very capable young woman.

To be distracted, with your mind elsewhere — literally «to have your head among the clouds».

English: to have your head in the clouds

Oggi hai la testa fra le nuvole.Your head’s in the clouds today.

To be thoroughly kind — literally «to be a piece of bread».

English: to have a heart of gold

Sotto sotto è un pezzo di pane.Deep down he’s got a heart of gold.

To lose your temper — literally «to lose the stirrups».

English: to fly off the handle

Perse le staffe per una sciocchezza.He flew off the handle over nothing.

To be furious — literally «to have a devil for every hair».

English: to be hopping mad

Non parlargli adesso: ha un diavolo per capello.Don’t talk to him now: he’s hopping mad.

To feel cheerful — literally «to be of good humour».

English: to be in a good mood

Stamattina è di buon umore.He’s in a good mood this morning.

To take something personally and be hurt by it — literally «to take it for yourself».

English: to take it to heart, to take offence

Non prendertela, era uno scherzo.Don’t take it the wrong way, it was a joke.

To have the nerve to do something — literally «to have the hard face».

English: to have the cheek

Ha avuto la faccia tosta di chiedere di più.He had the cheek to ask for more.

To be caught completely by surprise, often by something everyone else knew — literally «to fall from the clouds».

English: to be taken aback

Quando gliel’ho detto è caduto dalle nuvole.When I told him, he was completely taken aback.

To be hopeless at something — literally «to be a landslide».

English: to be hopeless (at something)

In cucina sono una frana.I’m hopeless in the kitchen.

To sulk — literally «to keep the snout».

English: to sulk

Tiene il muso da due giorni.He’s been sulking for two days.

The muso is an animal’s snout, used jokingly for a human face — here, a sulking one.

To be overjoyed — literally «to be in the seventh heaven».

English: to be over the moon

Da quando ha avuto la notizia è al settimo cielo.Since he got the news he’s been over the moon.

To imagine yourself in someone else’s situation — literally «to put yourself in someone’s clothes».

English: to put yourself in someone’s shoes

Mettiti nei miei panni per un momento.Put yourself in my shoes for a moment.

To have a guilty conscience, and show it by being touchy — literally «to have a straw tail».

English: to have a guilty conscience

Reagisce così perché ha la coda di paglia.He reacts like that because he has a guilty conscience.

To have lost control through strong emotion — literally «to be outside yourself».

English: to be beside yourself

Era fuori di sé dalla rabbia.He was beside himself with rage.

To be bursting with excitement — literally «no longer to fit in your skin».

English: can hardly contain yourself

Non sta più nella pelle per il viaggio.He can hardly contain himself about the trip.

To be easy-going and approachable — literally «to be a type to hand».

English: to be down to earth

Il direttore è un tipo alla mano.The boss is very down to earth.

To say very little — literally «to be of few words».

English: to be a person of few words

È di poche parole, ma di parola.He’s a man of few words, but a man of his word.

To pretend not to hear — literally «to make merchant’s ears».

English: to turn a deaf ear

Quando si parla di soldi fa orecchie da mercante.When money comes up, he turns a deaf ear.

Very rarely — literally «every death of a pope».

English: once in a blue moon

Ci vediamo ogni morte di papa.We see each other once in a blue moon.

At the most exciting moment — literally «on the most beautiful».

English: just when it was getting good

Se n’è andato sul più bello.He left just when it was getting good.

When there is almost no time left — literally «at the last moment».

English: at the last minute

Ha cambiato idea all’ultimo momento.He changed his mind at the last minute.

Only just, and with great difficulty — literally «through the tear in the cap».

English: by the skin of your teeth

Passò l’esame per il rotto della cuffia.He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.

Every second day — literally «on alternating days».

English: every other day

Ci va a giorni alterni.He goes every other day.

Suddenly and without warning — literally «from point into white».

English: out of the blue

Di punto in bianco si alzò e uscì.Out of the blue he got up and left.

Knowing now what was not known then — literally «with the sense of afterwards».

English: with hindsight

Col senno di poi era ovvio.With hindsight, it was obvious.

At the proper moment — literally «at due time».

English: in due course

Te lo dirò a tempo debito.I’ll tell you in due course.

At first, in the moment itself — literally «on the moment».

English: at first, at the time

Sul momento non ho capito.At first I didn’t understand.

Occasionally — literally «once every so often».

English: every now and then

Ci vado una volta ogni tanto.I go every now and then.

Eventually — literally «before or after».

English: sooner or later

Prima o poi si accorgerà.Sooner or later he’ll notice.

Going by instinct rather than evidence — literally «by the light of the nose».

English: going by gut feeling

Decise a lume di naso e ci azzeccò.He went by gut feeling and got it right.

At the very last instant — literally «on the woollen thread».

English: at the eleventh hour

Consegnò il progetto sul filo di lana.He handed the project in at the eleventh hour.

From racing: the woollen thread once stretched across the finishing line.

Calmly, in your own time — literally «without hurry».

English: there’s no rush

Fallo con calma, senza fretta.Take it easy, there’s no rush.

Late in the night — literally «at late night».

English: late at night

Tornò a tarda notte.He came back late at night.

In an instant — literally «in less than one might say».

English: in the blink of an eye

Sparì in men che non si dica.He vanished in the blink of an eye.

To have no money left — literally «to be at the green».

English: to be skint

A fine mese sono sempre al verde.By the end of the month I’m always skint.

The usual explanation is a candle with a green-painted base, used to time auctions: once it burned down to the green, time was up.

To be mean with money — literally «to have short little arms».

English: to have short arms and deep pockets

Al momento di pagare ha le braccine corte.When it’s time to pay, he’s got short arms and deep pockets.

English uses the same picture: the arms cannot reach the wallet.

To be very expensive — literally «to cost an eye from your head».

English: to cost an arm and a leg

Quella macchina costa un occhio della testa.That car costs an arm and a leg.

For little money — literally «at a good market».

English: cheap, on the cheap

L’ho comprato a buon mercato.I got it cheap.

To do a quick calculation — literally «to do two sums».

English: to do the maths

Facciamo due conti prima di decidere.Let’s do the maths before we decide.

To be worthless — literally «not to be worth a dried fig».

English: not worth a brass farthing

Quella promessa non vale un fico secco.That promise isn’t worth a brass farthing.

To pay with your own money — literally «to pay from your own pocket».

English: to pay out of your own pocket

Il viaggio l’ho pagato di tasca mia.I paid for the trip out of my own pocket.

To cut down on spending — literally «to make economy».

English: to tighten your belt

Quest’anno bisogna fare economia.This year we’ll have to tighten our belts.

To pay someone back in kind — literally «to give back bread for focaccia».

English: to give someone a taste of their own medicine

Gli rese pan per focaccia il mese dopo.A month later he gave him a taste of his own medicine.

To save money a little at a time — literally «to put to one side».

English: to put by, to put aside

Mette da parte qualcosa ogni mese.He puts a little by every month.

At great cost, and not only in money — literally «at a dear price».

English: at a high price, dearly

Ha ottenuto il posto a caro prezzo.He got the job, but at a high price.

To have a negative balance — literally «to be in the red».

English: to be in the red, to be overdrawn

Il conto è in rosso da marzo.The account has been overdrawn since March.

To spend nothing at all — literally «not to spend a lira».

English: not to part with a penny

Non ha speso una lira per la festa.He didn’t part with a penny for the party.

The lira gave way to the euro; the phrase outlived it.

To be worthwhile — literally «to be worth the trouble».

English: to be worth it

Vale la pena andarci.It’s worth going.