Italian | Roman dialect Lazio, Italy

non c'è trippa per gatti

Expression USED Frequently BY Most People

(there's no tripe for cats) • Used to say that you should accept things as they are because no options/alternatives are available; used to say that something is unattainable (both temporarily or permanently).

"Sto facendo fatica a trovare lavoro. Purtroppo con questa crisi non c'è trippa per gatti".

"I am struggling to find a job. Unfortunately, during this crisis, there is no tripe for cats."

Italian Italy

datti all'ippica

Expression USED On Occasion BY Older Generations

(give yourself to horse-riding) • An expression used to invite someone to engage in a brand new craft or job, as they're thought not good at what they do.

"E tu vorresti insegnare a me come si cucina? Ma datti all'ippica!"

"And you want to teach me how to cook? Give yourself to horse-riding!"

Italian Italy

fantozziano

Neologism USED On Occasion BY Some People

(adj.) • Used to describe a person or situation which reminds the fictional character Fantozzi, that embodies the average employee, constantly subdued by his employer and center of ludicrous (and often unfortunate) situations.

Il suo comportamento ossequioso è a dir poco fantozziano.

His obsequious behaviour is kind of Fantozziano.

Italian Italy

manzo

Slang USED Frequently BY mostly women

(n.) • (steer) • A slang used mostly by women to say that a man is attractive or handsome.

"Devi assolutamente vedere l'ultimo film di Thor, c'è quel manzo di Chris Hemsworth!"

"You should see the last Thor movie, there's that steer of Chris Hemsworth!"

Italian Italy

vattelappesca

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(gotofishit) • It's an expression used for situations in which there's uncertainty about something. It means "who knows"

"Ma dove sono finiti i miei occhiali? Vattelapesca!"

"Where the hell are my glasses? Gotofishit!"

Italian Italy

ho il Mar Rosso

Slang USED In the past BY Women

(I got the Red Sea) • Used by women as en euphemism to say that they were on their period.

Non posso fare il bagno oggi, ho il Mar Rosso.

I can't swim today, I'm on my period.

Italian Italy

tirare i piedi

Idiom USED Frequently BY Some People

(to pull one's feet) • To bring bad luck.

"Non ti preoccupare, l'esame sarà andato sicuramente bene." "Non tirarmi i piedi!"

"Dont worry, you surely did great in the exam." "Don't pull my feet!"

Italian Tuscany, especially in Florence and Livorno, Italy

il marchese

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(the marquis) • Used to indicate menstruation in some parts of Tuscany. It is actually "the red marquis", literally "the marquis dressed in red". It is used with the metaphor of a visit.

"Non mi va di andare a nuotare oggi, c'ho il marchese." "Il marchese doveva venire già da un po', mi inizio a preoccupare."

"Sorry I don't feel like swimming today, I have the marquis." "The marquis was supposed to visit but he didn't, I'm starting to worry."

Italian Italy

ho le mie cose

Expression USED Very frequently BY Women

(I have my things) • It litterally means 'I have my things' and it refers to the menstrual period.

"Lasciami stare che ho le mie cose."

"Let me be, I have my things."

Italian Italy

fuori come un balcone

Slang USED Frequently BY Teens

(out like a balcony) • Used to say that someone is out of their mind. It can refer both to something said or done by that person.

"Marco ama solo gli sport estremi, è fuori come un balcone."

"Marco only loves extreme sports, he's out like a balcony."

Italian Italy

Sputa il rospo

Idiom USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone

(spit the toad) • To urge someone to speak their mind or tell about something with no restraints; to spill the beans.

"Non hai mai espresso il tuo parere sulla loro unione. Forza, sputa il rospo."

"You have never expressed your opinion on their engagement. Come on, spit the toad."

Italian Italy

sviolinata

Word USED Frequently BY Some People

(noun) • (violin refrain) • Flattery; adulatory compliment.

"Luca sta esagerando con i complimenti. Mi sembrano solo delle sviolinate per ottenere qualcosa."

"Luca is praising me a bit too much. His compliments are mere violin refrains to get something from me."

Italian Italy

Sei scemo o mangi i sassi?

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(Are you stupid or do you eat stones?) • Rhetorical question that implies someone is really stupid. After all, eating stones is not the smartest thing to do, is it?

"Sara mi ha detto che vuoi andare in Antartide da solo. Sei scemo o mangi i sassi?"

"Sara told me you want to go to the Antarctic alone. Are you stupid or do you eat stones?"

Italian Italy

coda di paglia

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(straw-made tail) • Used when someone is upset for not having a clear conscience and is scared to be exposed.

"Non ho mangiato io i biscotti!" "Non ti ho accusato, hai la coda di paglia?"

"I didn't eat the cookies!" "I didn't blame you, do you have a straw-made tail?"

Italian Italy

avere le pezze al culo

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(to have patches on your ass) • To be so poor that you don't have any money to buy new clothes, so you wear your old and worn-out clothes; to be dirt poor.

"Andare in vacanza non è la mia priorità in questo momento. Ho perso il lavoro e quindi adesso ho le pezze al culo."

"Going on holiday is not my top priority right now. I have lost my job and so now I have patches on my ass."

Italian Italy

oca

Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone

(goose) • Said of a girl who acts silly, speaks with a high pitch of voice, laughs too much and talks about frivolous topics.

"Hai visto Anna com'è cambiata? È diventata un'oca."

"Have you seen how Anna's changed? She's become a goose."

Italian | Sardinian Sardinia , Italy

a casin'e Pompu

Expression USED On Occasion BY Everybody

(the house in Pompu) • Obscure, far away place

"Casa tua è molto lontana da qui?" "Sì, è a casin'e pompu"

"Is your home very far from here?" "Yes, it is at the home in Pompu"

Italian Italy

avere un piede nella fossa

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(to have a foot in the grave) • To kick the bucket; used to say that someone has little time left to live.

"Il mio vicino ha 85 anni, ha praticamente un piede nella fossa."

"My neighbor is 85, he basically has a foot in the grave."

Italian Italy

né carne né pesce

Idiom USED Frequently BY Everyone

(neither meat nor fish) • Used to say that someone has no personality.

"Marco non prende mai posizione, non è né carne né pesce."

"Marco never takes sides, he is neither meat nor fish."

Italian Italy

fuori di melone

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(out of melon) • To be out of your mind; the melon here is used as a reference to a person's head.

"Lisa, perché vai in giro da sola di notte, sei fuori di melone?"

"Lisa, why are you walking alone at night, are you out of melon?"