Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
(to climb on mirrors) • It is used when someone argues for groundless reasons.
"Ti sbagli e tutto ciò che dici non è vero, ti stai arrampicando sugli specchi."
"You're wrong and everything you say isn't true, you're climbing on mirrors."
Idiom USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(at every Pope's death) • It means rarely, once in a blue moon.
"Come va tuo figlio?" "Insomma, studia solo a ogni morte di Papa..."
"How's your son doing?" "Meh, he only studies once every Pope's death..."
syn
alt
Expression USED Frequently BY Most People
(in the butt of the wolves) • In a far away, hard to reach place.
"Vuoi andare a quella festa?" "Non lo so, è in culo ai lupi..."
"Do you want to go to that party?" "I don't know, it's in the butt of the wolves..."
Italian
Puglia and Campania,
Italy
Word USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(n.) • (Made-for-that-purpose) • Generic term for anything that can be used for any purpose.
“Vorrei appendere il quadro, ma non ho il fattapposta".
"I would like to hang the picture, but I don’t have the made-for-that-purpose."
pani duru e cuteddu ca nun tagghia
Idiom USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(stale bread and knife that doesn’t cut) • Used to describe incompetent people who cannot carry out a task successfully.
"La segreteria non ha risolto il mio problema con il portale studenti." "Pane ruru e cuteddu ca nun tagghia."
"The student’s office didn’t help me solve my problem with the student’s webpage." "Stale bread and knife that doesn't cut."
Submitted August 2020 by chiaragrams
syn
Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(In the wolf’s mouth) • A wish of good luck.
“Ho un esame oggi e mi sento nervoso.” “In bocca al lupo!”
“I have an exam today and I’m nervous.” “In the wolf's mouth!”
Name USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone
(duckling) • Used to refer to a pretty girl you see on the street. Especially used in the province of Catania.
“Oh paparedda, che si dice?”
''Hey duckling, how are you doing?''
Submitted August 2020 by chiaragrams
Expression USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone
(n.) • (stones stones) • It’s used when you’re in a bad situation.
"Ma vitti petri petri!"
"I saw it stones stones!"
Submitted August 2020 by chiaragrams
syn
Sound USED Very frequently BY Dogs
This is what Italian dogs say.
"Bau bau bau!"
"Give me more food, human!"
syn
Sound USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(knock knock) • Onomatopeia indicating the sound made by someone knocking on a door.
"Toc toc, è permesso?"
"Knock knock, may I come in?"
æ
Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(piece of bread) • When someone is a very good and altruistic person. It is usually only used with the 3rd person singular (he/she).
"Andrea è un pezzo di pane."
"Andrea is a piece of bread."
alt
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Word USED Frequently BY Gen Z'ers
(adj.) • (pussy) • Awesome or good-looking, if referred to a person.
"Oh, guarda quella là! Che fregna che è!"
"Oh, look at that girl over there! How pussy she is!"
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Parli del diavolo e spuntano le corna
Proverb USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(You speak of the devil and the corns come out) • When you talk or think of someone and they suddenly appear.
"Hai sentito di Marta? Ah, eccola... Parli del diavolo e spuntano le corna."
"Did you hear about Marta? Oh, there she is... You speak of the devil and the corns come out."
æ
Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(four cats) • When there are very few people in a place.
"Quante persone ci sono alla festa?" "Quattro gatti."
"How many people are at the party?" "Four cats."
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Expression USED On Occasion BY Teens
(n.) • ((what a) show!) • It's often used by young people when facing something astonishing, amazing, or simply relaxing. It can also be referring to situations of thrilling experiences such as a wonderful sight or a pleasant smell/taste, or when receiving good news. In other words, it can be uttered after experiencing good vibes.
"Domani non lavorerò e potremo stare insieme tutto il giorno." "Spettacolo! Sto già pensando a come organizzare al meglio la giornata."
"I'm not working tomorrow and we could stay together all day." "What a show! I'm already thinking how we should best organize our day."
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Expression USED Frequently BY Most People
(What is said?) • A near-equivalent in English would be "what's up?", referring to people's perception of the general current situation. The question is usually referred to one or more people in particular, so it always has its specificity.
"Ehilà! Che si dice?"
"Hey there! What is said?”
Slang USED Frequently BY Young People
(n.) • (bro) • It's the exact translation for "bro". It is the abbreviation of the word "fratello", which means "brother".
"Bella, fra!" "Ciao, che mi racconti?"
"Hey bro!" "Hi, what's up?"
alt
Slang USED Frequently BY Teens
(what do you tell me? ) • It's a sentence used for when you meet someone, after a long period of time, and you ask them what they've been up to.
"Oh bello, che mi racconti?" "Eh insomma, mi ha lasciato da poco la mia ragazza..."
"Hey dude, what's up?" "Well not so good actually, my girlfriend recently broke up with me..."
Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(by dog's penis) • When something is done randomly, without paying attention.
"Ho parcheggiato a cazzo di cane."
"I parked by dog's penis."
æ
Word USED Frequently BY Everyone
(n.) • Sudden sleepiness that occurs especially after a big meal.
"Dopo pranzo mi viene sempre l'abbiocco!"
"After lunch I have always the abbiocco!"
