Comments on: Six Italian Idioms You Can Learn Today

By: • expat+HAREM

• expat+HAREM — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:40:33 +0000

[...] 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

Trandafil — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:10:44 +0000

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

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:07:44 +0000

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

Erin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:50:00 +0000

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

Italy News: 10.12.08 | Italy Travel Guide — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:26:52 +0000

[...] 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

poppy fields — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:31:43 +0000

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

paul of the clue-by-four — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:19:05 +0000

OK… I love “prending me in giro.” It’s wicked cool.

Feel free to use it as you wish.

By: qualcosa di bello

qualcosa di bello — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:19:39 +0000

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

Jessica, Italy Logue — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:00:26 +0000

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

Jessica, Italy Logue — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:55:04 +0000

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!

By: Miss Expatria

Miss Expatria — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:16:27 +0000

@paul of the clue-by-four – I used to say “mi piace di morire,” and my friends would fall over laughing. To this day I don’t know the difference, but now they all say it to make fun of me!

@Carla – In my famous-among-me Engtalian, I say, “Are you prending me in giro?”

THIS is why we are friends. I say “prending me in giro,” too! LOL

By: Carla

Carla — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:10:35 +0000

I like “figurati!” (many meanings: my pleasure! Sure! You bet! Not at all! Tell me about it!).
I’ve only heard “Sei fuori” used in northern Italy, but I like that too!
And I’m so gullible, I always have to use “Mi Prendi in Giro?” because I never know if people are joking or not!

buon weekend!

That is why I never really understood “figurati!” It means SO much! Buon weekend to you, too!

By: paul of the clue-by-four

paul of the clue-by-four — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:55:05 +0000

Is “incazzata” a PG-13 word, or does it just sound like the “c” word (which, like olive oil, seems to season pretty much everything in Italy)?

One of my favorite G-rated idioms (after “non vedo l’ora”)has always been “mi piace da morire!” It’s oddly counter-intuitive, like “non vedo l’ora (I don’t see the hour? I like it from dying?), but it seems to me quintessentially Italian for exactly that reason.

LOL. I think it just sounds like it! I’ll have to listen more closely for “mi piace da morire.” Maybe I was always confused when I heard it.

By: Miss Expatria

Miss Expatria — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:49:02 +0000

@nyc/carribbean ragazza i love non me ne frega niente.

@KC incazzata nera! one of my faves.

@Milanese Masala “che sfigata” i find at least 5 reasons to say that every day. LOL!

I have heard che sfigata but I don’t say it much. I will now. I wanna be in the “cool club.”

By: KC

KC — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:05:52 +0000

I’d never heard the incazzata nera one either. I prefer saying buona fortuna (even though Italians don’t say it) to in bocca al lupo because I don’t like the crepi. Poor wolf!

He he, that is funny. I tend to say both, not for any real reason, but I “feel” buona fortuna a little more.

By: This Eclectic Life

This Eclectic Life — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:32:20 +0000

Oh, my thunder! I thought that Texas had a lot of idioms…but this takes the cake. I sat here practicing (can you imagine how these sound in a Texas accent? of course you can). So tell me how to say something akin to “ring-tailed tooter” in Italian, would you?

I’m bummed that Justin didn’t answer if his wife knocked him upside the head after his imaginary romance!

Girl, you got me on that one! When I’m in doubt, I just add an “O” or an “A” to the end of the English word and P figures out what I am trying to say. I’m hoping Justin will answer that next time.

By: Milanese Masala

Milanese Masala — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:17:03 +0000

Italians always say “In bocca al lupo” “Crepi” and never “buona fortuna” (good luck). They also have a more colourful version of that expression involving whales and flatulence but I don’t think I should share it here ; )

One curious idiom I first learned was “Conosco i miei polli” (literally, “I know my chickens”) but which actually means “I know what he/she’s like”: ex. I’m sure my husband is going to forget his keys again. Conosco i miei polli!

I also love using the word “sfiga” (bad luck) in all its variations. Che sfiga, porta sfiga, che sfigato/a, etc…

Oooh. That whale one has me interested. I’ll have to ask P. although “conosco i miei polli” so he probably won’t know what I’m talking about!

By: nyc/carribbean ragazza

nyc/carribbean ragazza — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:10:43 +0000

I love idioms. Sei fuori is one I haven’t hear. Me like.

Here in Rome “che me ne frega” is like our , “I don’t give a s***.” I only say when I’m kidding with my friends.

One of the first idioms I learned in Italian class back in the States was “non vedo l’ora”. I had said, “non posso… ” as in “I can’t waiting for….” My professor said nope, “it’s non vedo l’ora.” Like you are so excited “you can’t even see the hour.” Oh okay.

Yes, but “can’t see the hour” makes me think of “I don’t want to see the hour, so I don’t want it to come.” I said non posso aspettare the first time and P laughed *so* hard. Too hard, actually. It isn’t *that* funny!

Also, I had a doctor once tell me something like “che ne frega” like “who cares” when I told him a different doctor referred me to him. How was I to know it was rude? My doctor said it! LOL

By: Miss Expatria

Miss Expatria — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:44:55 +0000

My gay mafia always told me that “crepi” was an awful, awful thing to say to someone. Boh?

I guess it could be bad if you weren’t saying it in the context with “In Bocca al Lupo.” Otherwise you are just saying “die!” Knowing how Italians hate to talk about death, I can see where that is a bad thing to say! ha.

By: Scintilla

Scintilla — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:59:10 +0000

I had a tourist lose his way and end up at my house once. His parting words were ‘ lei sa che sta in un posto da tagliarsi le vene?’. I looked around me expecting to see the floor cave under my feet. Seeing my bewilderment, he translated ‘E` un posto bellissimo’.
Thinking about it later, I suppose it must translate into ‘A place to die for’.

Wow. THAT was a mouthful, wasn’ it? You did to catch it all, I’d have just smiled and offered him coffee!