Italian Idioms and Expressions

Avere la Botte Piena e la Moglie Ubriaca : To have the wine cask full and the wife drunk: to have your cake and eat it, too.

Avere le mani d'oro :to be gifted in doing things

Attaccare il Cappello : To hang up one’s hat: used of a man who marries a wealthy woman, and (presumably) doesn’t have to work anymore.

A piede libero : out of jail

Alzare il gomito : to drink too much

Andarci coi piedi di piombo : to be cautious

Attacalo al chiodo : Hang it to the nail ( forget about it )

Avere le mani in pasta :to have power to influence someone else's decisions, to be powerful

Avere le mani legate :to have one's hands tied

Avere un piede nella fossa : to be almost dead

Buona Notte al Secchio : Literally, good night to the bucket, iIt’s used to mean …and then we’re screwed.Why there should be a bucket involved I do not know.

Buono Come il Pane :As good as bread.

Caduto dalle Nuvole :Fallen from the clouds: Completely surprised, or pretending to be.

Siamo incasinati : We’re in a mess(or we’re very busy”).

Cadere in piedi : to land on one's feet, to come out of a situation without damage

Cogliere qualcuno con le mani nel sacco :to catch someone red:handed

Dare manforte :to come to the rescue

Dare una mano a qualcuno :to help someone

Darsela a gambe : to run away

Essere alla mano :to be easy going

Dalle Stelle alle Stalle From riches to rugs

Dente Avvelenato – Ho il dente avvelenato : I am quite upset

Essere in gamba :

Fare man bassa : to ransack

Fuori di Testa : Out of your mind

Gallina Vecchia fa Buon Brodo : old chicken makes good soup

Fuori dai piedi! : clear out!

Il bue dice cornuto all'asino : The ox calls horned the donkey

Il Sangue Al Cervello – the blood on the brain (to describe that anger incrases)

In Bocca al Lupo : Into the wolf's mouth : good luck ( it works like Break a leg in English ) The proper response is Crepi il lupo (May the wolf die)

Leccapiedi : brownnose

Legarsela al dito : to remember a wrong bitterly

Man mano che : as/while

Metter le mani avanti (prima di cadere) : to take action to prevent later damage

Mettere il dito sulla piaga : to touch where it hurts

Mettersi le mani nei capelli : to be desperate, helpless

Metterci la ciliegina sopra : To place the cherry on top – To finish up something

Metti il sale sulla coda – Put salt on his tail / Try to catch it !

Mi piace un casino : I like it a lot.

Mordersi le mani : to regret something
Nella Botte Piccola C'è Vino Buono : Into a small cask there is good wine: A friendly compliment to a short person.

Non fare il passo piu' lungo della gamba : Don't make your step longer than your leg (or, don’t bite off more than you can chew)

Olio di gomito : oil from the elbow / Physical labor : Usare olio di gomito : Faticare

Ogni morto di papa : Every Death of a Pope : once in a blue moon.

Peli Sulla Lingua : non ho peli sulla lingua : I have no hair on my tongue – I speak frankly

Peli Sullo stomaco: ( Avere peli sullo stomaco ) :

Prendere qualcosa sottogamba : not to take it seriously

Piove sul Bagnato: It rains on what’s already wet : When it rains it pours !

Qualcosa bolle in pentola : Something is boiling in the pot (You are up to something) Ragionare coi piedi : to be illogical

Sentirsi prudere le mani : to feel like hitting someone

Star con le mani in mano : to be idle, to be sitting on the fence

Su due piedi : on the spot

Ti scureggia il cervello ( A fun Roman expression that mean : Your brin is farting ! / you are saying something very stupid ! )

Tirarsi su le maniche : Pull up the sleeves : Getting ready to work

Venire alle mani : to fight