Interesting and funny expressions in Italian
You can listen to the audio file here:
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
Attaccalo 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, it’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, very good hearted.
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: to be fit (usually referred to someone of a certain age or that has just been ill)
Fuori di Testa: Out of your mind
Gallina Vecchia fa Buon Brodo: old chicken makes good soup – age does not matter
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 increases)
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 tie it to the finger – 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): don’t mind anything
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 means: Your brain 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
