Part 4 of 5
An idiom is a sentence whose meaning can’t be understood from the meaning of the individual words that are part of it. For example, the English idiom ‘break a leg’ means ‘good luck’; it is not a way to curse someone.
In this article, we will learn the most common Italian idioms.
Enjoy!
1. Da leccarsi i baffi – Delicious
Literal translation: to lick one’s mustaches.
A: “Com’era la torta?”
B: “Da leccarsi i baffi!”
A: “How was the cake?”
B: “Delicious!”
2. L’abito non fa il monaco – don’t judge a book by its cover.
Literal translation: the dress does not make the monk.
A: “Sembrava così tranquillo quando ha iniziato a lavorare qui, ma si è rivelato essere un festaiolo!”
B: “L’abito non fa il Monaco, mia cara!”
A: “He seemed so calm when he started working here, but he turned out to be a party animal!”
B: “Never judge a book by its cover, my dear!”
3. L’ambasciator non porta pena – don’t shoot the messenger (do not blame the person who is giving you bad news, when you should blame the people who are responsible for it.)
Literal translation: the ambassador does not bring pain.
A: “Quindi mi stai dicendo che devo lasciare l’appartamento entro una settimana?!”
B: “Sì, ma non prendertela con me! Ricordati che l’ambasciator non porta pena.”
A: “So you're telling me I have to leave the apartment within a week?!”
B: “Yes, but don't blame me! Remember that you should never shoot the messenger."
4. L’amore è cieco – love is blind
A: “Sta con un tizio che non lavora e passa le sue giornate sul divano. Come fa?”
B: “Non ne ho idea! È proprio vero che l’amore è cieco!”
A: “She's in a relationship with a guy who doesn't work and spends his days on the couch. How does she do that?”
B: “I have no idea! It really is true that love is blind!”
5. L’appetito vien mangiando – appetite comes with eating
A: “Quando mi sono seduta a tavola non avevo molta fame, ma adesso ho una fame da lupo”
B: “L’appetito vien mangiando!”
A: “When I sat at the table, I wasn't very hungry, but now I'm starving”
B: “Appetite comes with eating!”
6. L’erba del vicino è sempre più verde – the grass is always greener on the other side.
A: “Ha tre Ferrari, due Lamborghini e una Maserati. Fa una vita da sogno!”
B: “L’erba del vicino è sempre più verde. Sii grato per tutto quello che hai”.
A: “He has three Ferrari, two Lamborghini and a Maserati. He lives the dream life!”
B: “The grass is always greener on the other side. Be grateful for everything you have."
7. La pazienza è la virtù dei forti – patience is a virtue (the ability to wait for something without getting upset is a good quality)
Literal translation: patience is the virtue of the strong.
A: “Quando gli ho detto che ci sarebbe stato un ritardo di tre giorni nelle consegne, avevo paura che si sarebbe arrabbiato, invece mi ha fatto un sorriso”
B: “La pazienza è la virtù dei forti”.
A: “When I told him that there would be a three-day delay in deliveries, I was afraid he would be angry, instead he gave me a smile”.
B: “Patience is the virtue of the strong.”
8. La speranza è l’ultima a morire – hope springs eternal.
Literal translation: hope is the last to die.
A: “Non ce la faremo mai a ripulire tutto prima che mamma e papà tornino a casa”
B: “La speranza è l’ultima a morire. Vedrai che ce la faremo!”
A: “We'll never be able to clean everything up before mum and dad come home.”
B: “Hope springs eternal. You'll see we'll make it!"
9. Mai giudicare dalle apparenze – don’t judge a book by its cover.
Literal translation: never judge by the appearance.
A: “Hai visto le loro foto su Instagram? Sembravano così felici insieme!”
B: “Mai giudicare dalle apparenze!”
A: “Have you seen their photos on Instagram? They looked so happy together!”
B: “Never judge a book by its cover!”
10. Mal comune, mezzo gaudio – a trouble shared is a trouble halved
Literal translation: common evil, half joy.
A: “Parlare con te mi ha fatto sentire meglio!”
B: “Mal comune, mezzo gaudio!”
A: “Talking to you made me feel better!”
B: “A trouble shared is a trouble halved!”
11. Mandare all’aria – to mess something up/to throw it away, to call everything off.
Literal translation: to send to the air.
A: “Stavano per sposarsi, ma ha mandato tutto all’aria e si è trasferito in Giamaica!”
B: “Che invidia!”
A: “They were going to get married, but he called everything off and moved to Jamaica!”
B: “I’m so jealous!”
12. Meglio tardi che mai – better late than never.
A: “Mi ha inviato la sua ricerca cinque minuti prima della scadenza!”
B: “Meglio tardi che mai!”
A: “He sent me his paper five minutes before the deadline!”
B: “Better late than never!”
13. Mettere lo zampino – meddling in other people’s business/putting your nose where it doesn’t belong.
Literal translation: to put the paw.
A: “I preparativi per la festa a sorpresa stavano andando bene, finché Karla ci ha messo lo zampino e ha rovinato tutto!”
A: “The preparations for the surprise party were going well, until Karla put her nose where it doesn’t belong and ruined everything!”
14. Mettere nero su bianco – to put in writing, on paper.
Literal translation: to put black on white.
A: “È tutto scritto qui! Nero su bianco.”
A: “It’s all here! In writing.”
15. Metterci una vita – to take forever
Literal translation: to take a lifetime
A: “Ci metti sempre una vita a preparati! Sbrigati!”
A: “You always take forever to get ready! Hurry up!"
16. Morire dal ridere – to die laughing
Morire di sonno – to be dead tired
Morire di fame – to starve
Morire dal caldo/freddo – to die from the heat/to be freezing
· “Quando guardo Helen Bidou muoio sempre dal ridere”
“When I watch Helen Bidou I always die laughing”
· “Non sono stanca, sto morendo di sonno.”
“I'm not tired, I'm dead tired.”
· “Ti prego mangiamo, sto morendo di fame!”
“Let's eat please, I'm starving!”
· “Prima morivi di caldo e adesso muori di freddo… deciditi!”
“Before you were dying from the heat and now, you're freezing… make up your mind!”
17. Morto un papa, se ne fa un altro – there are plenty more fish in the sea.
Literal translation: once a pope dies, another pope is elected.
A: “Mi ha lasciato perché secondo lui leggo troppi manga”
B: “Che scemo! Meglio così! Morto un papa, se ne fa un altro.”
A: “He left me because he thinks I read too many manga”
B: “What an idiot! It's better that way! There are plenty more fish in the sea."
18. Non ci piove – No doubt about it
Literal translation: It doesn’t rain on it.
A: “La squadra dell’anno scorso era più forte e su questo non ci piove!”
A: “Last year's team was stronger. There's no doubt about it!”
19. Ogni due per tre – very often
Literal translation: every two for three.
A: “Dice bugie ogni due per tre.”
A: “He lies very often.”
20. Ogni morte di papa – once in a blue moon
Literal translation: every death of a pope.
A: “Tuo fratello pulisce la casa ogni morte di papa.”
A: “Your brother cleans the house once in a blue moon.”
21. Oltre al danno, anche la beffa! – to add insult to injury.
Literal translation: in addition to the damage, even the insult!
A: “Una macchina non le ha dato la precedenza e l’assicurazione non vuole pagare. Oltre al danno, anche la beffa!”
A: “A car didn't give her way and the insurance doesn't want to pay adding insult to injury!”
22. Pareggiare i conti – to get even/settle a score
Literal translation: to match numbers.
A: “È andato dalla polizia dopo che quel tizio gli ha mandato una lettera dove diceva che era ora di pareggiare i conti.”
A: “He went to the police after that guy sent him a letter saying it was time to settle a score.”
23. Perdersi in un bicchier d’acqua – to drown in an inch of water (not knowing how to handle the simplest situations)
Literal translation: to get lost in a glass of water.
A: “È un ragazzo intelligente, ma a volte si perde in un bicchier d’acqua!”
A: “He's a smart guy, but sometimes he drowns in an inch of water!”
24. Piangere come una fontana – to cry desperately.
Literal translation: to cry like a fountain.
A: “Piange come una fontana. Come faccio a farlo smettere?”
A: “He is crying desperately. How do I make him stop?”
25. Piangere sul latte versato – to cry over spilled milk
A: “È inutile piangere sul latte versato. Dovevi pensarci prima!”
A: “There's no use crying over spilled milk. You should have thought of that before!”
26. Piovere a catinelle – it’s raining cats and dogs
Literal translation: it’s raining basins
A: “Ma dove vuoi andare? Sta piovendo a catinelle!”
A: “Where do you want to go? It's raining cats and dogs!”
27. Piove sempre sul bagnato – Lucky people will always be lucky.
Literal translation: It always rains on wet ground.
A: “Ha tre macchine e ne ha appena vinta un’altra alla lotteria! Piove sempre sul bagnato!”
A: “He has three cars and just won another one in the lottery! Lucky people will always be lucky!”
28. Prendere due piccioni con una fava – to kill two birds with one stone
Literal translation: to take two pigeons with one broad bean.
A: “Quando raggiungi due obiettivi allo stesso tempo, puoi dire che hai preso due piccioni con una fava.”
A: “When you achieve two goals at the same time, you can say you've killed two birds with one stone.”
29. Prendere lucciole per lanterne – to make a mistake/a blunder, to misunderstand.
Literal translation: To take fireflies for lanterns
A: “Non hai capito proprio niente! Prendi sempre lucciole per lanterne!”
A: “You didn't understand anything at all! You always misunderstand!”
30. Prendere un granchio – To make a mistake/a blunder
Literal translation: to catch a crab.
A: “Pensavo fosse innamorata di me, ma mi sa che ho preso un granchio!”
A: “I thought she was in love with me, but I think I made a mistake!”
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Thanks for reading, I'll see you all next month!
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