Italian Idioms and Expressions
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
