Starting, keeping going, stopping — and how an ending gets its name.
Practise this list
From these 33 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
The last entry is liquidare, and it is the widest word on the list. English has « liquidate », it looks identical, and it covers about half of what the Italian verb does. The two agree on the company: la società è stata liquidata is the firm was wound up, and il liquidatore is the same officer as our « liquidator ». After that they part. Liquidare una fattura is to settle an invoice and liquidare i danni is to settle a claim, and no accountant writing English liquidates a bill. Liquidare la merce is to sell stock off cheaply, which is why a shop window reading liquidazione announces a clearance rather than an insolvency. And l’ha liquidato con due parole says somebody was brushed aside in a sentence, a use « liquidate » cannot carry without sounding murderous. The thread through all four is the Latin adjective liquidus, clear: to liquidate a thing is to make it clear, settled, no longer outstanding. English kept the two money senses and the sinister one, and let the everyday ones go.
The words
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Verb (20)
avviarsito get under wayVerbC2
Il progetto si avvia con due mesi di ritardo.The project is getting under way two months late.
sperimentareto trialVerbC2
Sperimentiamo il metodo in due reparti soltanto.We are trialling the method in two departments only.
potenziareto scale upVerbC2
Hanno potenziato la produzione in poche settimane.They scaled up production within a few weeks.
provvedereto see to itVerbC2
L’ufficio provvede alla consegna dei documenti.The office sees to the handover of the documents.
occuparsi dito take care ofVerbC2
Chi si occupa della manutenzione parte lunedì.Whoever takes care of maintenance leaves on Monday.
sbrigareto deal with promptlyVerbC2
Sbrighiamo la pratica prima di chiudere.We deal with the file promptly before closing.
arenarsito run agroundVerbC2
La trattativa si è arenata sul punto più semplice.The negotiation ran aground on the simplest point.
sgonfiarsito fizzle outVerbC2
L’entusiasmo si è sgonfiato in poche settimane.The enthusiasm fizzled out within a few weeks.
procrastinareto put offVerbC2
Continuiamo a procrastinare la decisione più scomoda.We keep putting off the most awkward decision.
accantonareto shelveVerbC2
Hanno accantonato l’idea senza dirlo apertamente.They shelved the idea without saying so openly.
abbandonareto abandonVerbC2
Alla fine hanno abbandonato la vecchia linea.In the end they abandoned the old line.
sopprimereto discontinueVerbC2
La corsa serale è stata soppressa in silenzio.The evening service was discontinued quietly.
riprendereto resumeVerbC2
I lavori riprendono dopo le feste.Work resumes after the holidays.
