Comments on: Six Italian Idioms You Can Learn Today http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/ Living and Traveling in Calabria, Italy Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:22:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: • expat+HAREM http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-11970 • expat+HAREM Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:40:33 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-11970 [...] moved to Italy fluent in Italian, able to talk about different types of flowers and use idiomatic expressions. My British fiance was the only non-Italian I interacted [...] [...] moved to Italy fluent in Italian, able to talk about different types of flowers and use idiomatic expressions. My British fiance was the only non-Italian I interacted [...]

]]> By: Trandafil http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-3827 Trandafil Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:10:44 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-3827 Che figata di blog!= Cool blog! Be careful with "incazzata nera", it means "(really)pissed off" ! and don't ever say "mezza sega" to a man !! As long as the use of idioms is concerned, I believe it's true that we use more idioms/proverbs/anecdotes than English-speakers, I remember my high school teachers saying not to lose time learning proverbs because British and Americans don't use them often, instead here in Italy a person who knows a lot of anecdotes or sayings is highly regarded (particularly among the elderly), it's a popular tradition.   <strong><em>Ciao. Grazie! And thanks for helping out with the idioms. I see what you mean about the older generation constantly quoting proverbs. I LOVE hearing them! PS - I just asked P what mezza sega means and he wants to know who I've been talking to!!! LOL</em></strong> Che figata di blog!= Cool blog!
Be careful with “incazzata nera”, it means “(really)pissed off” ! and don’t ever say “mezza sega” to a man !!
As long as the use of idioms is concerned, I believe it’s true that we use more idioms/proverbs/anecdotes than English-speakers, I remember my high school teachers saying not to lose time learning proverbs because British and Americans don’t use them often, instead here in Italy a person who knows a lot of anecdotes or sayings is highly regarded (particularly among the elderly), it’s a popular tradition.
 
Ciao. Grazie! And thanks for helping out with the idioms. I see what you mean about the older generation constantly quoting proverbs. I LOVE hearing them!

PS – I just asked P what mezza sega means and he wants to know who I’ve been talking to!!! LOL

]]> By: j http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-3562 j Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:07:44 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-3562 It seems there are more of these kind of expressions in Italian then there are in English. I'm not sure why this would be. Maybe Italians are just more poetic, or maybe its just more difficult to express yourself in Italian and that is also why they use their hands more when they speak...or maybe I'm just a saputo!   <strong><em>It would be interesting to see if there really are more in Italian or if they just jump out to us more because it is a second language. I'm not sure if they do this b/c it is harder to express themselves, but most Italians I know repeat themselves over and over until finally you are like, "Uh yea, dude. I get it!" :-0</em></strong> It seems there are more of these kind of expressions in Italian then there are in English. I’m not sure why this would be. Maybe Italians are just more poetic, or maybe its just more difficult to express yourself in Italian and that is also why they use their hands more when they speak…or maybe I’m just a saputo!
 
It would be interesting to see if there really are more in Italian or if they just jump out to us more because it is a second language. I’m not sure if they do this b/c it is harder to express themselves, but most Italians I know repeat themselves over and over until finally you are like, “Uh yea, dude. I get it!” :-0

]]> By: Erin http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-3561 Erin Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:50:00 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-3561 I always realize how crazy even just the English language is when I'm talking to my two little girls. They take things so literally and things that mean one thing to you mean something quite different to them : )   <strong><em>Exactly! My mom loves to tell the story of how I wouldn't eat chicken fingers growing up because of the literal meaning. You can learn a lot from kids, no?</em></strong> I always realize how crazy even just the English language is when I’m talking to my two little girls. They take things so literally and things that mean one thing to you mean something quite different to them : )
 
Exactly! My mom loves to tell the story of how I wouldn’t eat chicken fingers growing up because of the literal meaning. You can learn a lot from kids, no?

]]> By: Italy News: 10.12.08 | Italy Travel Guide http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-3559 Italy News: 10.12.08 | Italy Travel Guide Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:26:52 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-3559 [...] me, and that I’m particularly fond of Italian idiomatic expressions, right? Well, Cherrye has listed six that are not only common but should be pretty easy to master. In the comments you’ll find lots more interesting ones, [...] [...] me, and that I’m particularly fond of Italian idiomatic expressions, right? Well, Cherrye has listed six that are not only common but should be pretty easy to master. In the comments you’ll find lots more interesting ones, [...]

]]> By: poppy fields http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-3557 poppy fields Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:31:43 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-3557 One of my favorites in france is: "les doigts dans le nez", literally translated: fingers in the nose. Used when something is so easy, that you can do it even if your fingers are up your nose :)   <strong><em>Oh that is funny ... and kinda gross! ha</em></strong> One of my favorites in france is: “les doigts dans le nez”, literally translated: fingers in the nose.

Used when something is so easy, that you can do it even if your fingers are up your nose :)
 
Oh that is funny … and kinda gross! ha

]]> By: paul of the clue-by-four http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-3555 paul of the clue-by-four Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:19:05 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-3555 OK... I love "prending me in giro." It's wicked cool.   <strong><em>Feel free to use it as you wish. :-)</em></strong> OK… I love “prending me in giro.” It’s wicked cool.
 
Feel free to use it as you wish. :-)

]]> By: qualcosa di bello http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-3554 qualcosa di bello Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:19:39 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-3554 i'm still struggling with the straight up lingo! but i do like to use 'non vedo l'ora' particularly in the sense...la mese prossima andiamo in italia...non vedo l'ora! (e' vero!!) did you ever see the book 'wicked italian'...it's chock full of language goodies!   <strong><em>Woo hoo. I am sure you don't see the hour for that! :-) Thanks for the book rec. Sounds Bostonized to me.</em></strong> i’m still struggling with the straight up lingo! but i do like to use ‘non vedo l’ora’ particularly in the sense…la mese prossima andiamo in italia…non vedo l’ora! (e’ vero!!)

did you ever see the book ‘wicked italian’…it’s chock full of language goodies!
 
Woo hoo. I am sure you don’t see the hour for that! :-) Thanks for the book rec. Sounds Bostonized to me.

]]> By: Jessica, Italy Logue http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-3553 Jessica, Italy Logue Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:00:26 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-3553 Ooh, and one more I just remembered - it came from a friend who was recently in Italy. "Mezza sega" is, as she puts it - "only the best insult ever, it means, literally, half a saw. But in every day use, it means 'half a wanker' -- somebody who is so lazy, they can't even finish their own job."   <strong><em>I've never heard that one. I'm gonna have to figure out how to use it! Grazie.</em></strong> Ooh, and one more I just remembered – it came from a friend who was recently in Italy. “Mezza sega” is, as she puts it – “only the best insult ever, it means, literally, half a saw. But in every day use, it means ‘half a wanker’ — somebody who is so lazy, they can’t even finish their own job.”
 
I’ve never heard that one. I’m gonna have to figure out how to use it! Grazie.

]]> By: Jessica, Italy Logue http://my-bellavita.com/2008/10/10/six-italian-expressions-and-idioms/comment-page-1/#comment-3552 Jessica, Italy Logue Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:55:04 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=872#comment-3552 I was going to mention the whale one that Milanese Masala mentioned above; it's a good one, but even my Italian teacher refused to write it down when she taught it to us. Not for mixed company. ;) I have a whole book of Italian idioms - one of my favorites, which I've never had an opportunity yet to use, is "gatta ci cova" - as in "there's something fishy going on," but literally more like "the cat is hiding something." Too cute. I started writing about Italian idioms on my site, but haven't added to it in awhile... Must get back to it! http://www.italylogue.com/about-italy/italian-idiomatic-expressions.html   <strong><em>I have GOT to ask P about the whale idiom! I love gatta ci cova. This is a fun conversation we have going on here. I'm learning so much!</em></strong> I was going to mention the whale one that Milanese Masala mentioned above; it’s a good one, but even my Italian teacher refused to write it down when she taught it to us. Not for mixed company. ;)

I have a whole book of Italian idioms – one of my favorites, which I’ve never had an opportunity yet to use, is “gatta ci cova” – as in “there’s something fishy going on,” but literally more like “the cat is hiding something.” Too cute. I started writing about Italian idioms on my site, but haven’t added to it in awhile… Must get back to it! http://www.italylogue.com/about-italy/italian-idiomatic-expressions.html
 
I have GOT to ask P about the whale idiom! I love gatta ci cova. This is a fun conversation we have going on here. I’m learning so much!

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