Idiom USED Frequently BY Everyone
(to take up horse racing) • To change one's profession due to incapacity or unskillfulness in a previous job. This idiom is mostly used in the form of rather direct and dismissive advice/suggestion. Comparable to English "go climb a tree" or "go take up knitting."
"Luigi non è assolutamente in grado di svolgere il suo lavoro. Farebbe meglio a darsi all'ippica."
"Luigi is absolutely unable to do his job. He'd be better off taking up horce racing."
Perdersi in un bicchiere d’acqua
Idiom USED Frequently BY Everyone
(To get lost in a glass of water) • It means to worry or make a big deal of something that is actually a small problem or not a problem at all.
-"All'esame orale, mi sono perso in un bicchier d'acqua."
-"At the oral exam, I got lost in a glass of water."
Submitted April 2022 by thinkinitalian
campa cavallo che l'erba cresce
Proverb USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(live, horse, and grass will grow) • Used to say that you waiting for something is like a horse waiting for the grass to grow to eat. It's not happening anytime soon.
"sto aspettando che Giovanni mi risponda al messaggio" "campa cavallo che l'erba cresce"
"I'm waiting for Giovanni to reply to my text" "live, horse, and grass will grow"
Il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio
Proverb USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People
(The wolf looses its fur but not its vice) • This proverb describes that it’s very difficult to get rid of a bad habit.
“Perché vi siete lasciati?” “Mi ha di nuovo tradito!” “Te l’ho detto, il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio!”
“Why did you break up?” “She cheated on me again!” “I told you already, the wolf looses its fur but not its vice!”
Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
(water in the mouth) • To keep quiet. If you have your mouth full of water, you cannot talk!
"Mi raccomando, acqua in bocca!"
"But remember, water in the mouth!"
perdersi in un bicchiere d’acqua
Expression USED Frequently BY Everybody
(to lose oneself in a glass of water) • To make a problem look bigger than it is.
"È proprio imbranato, si perde in un bicchiere d’acqua."
"He’s so clumsy, he loses himself in a glass of water."
Submitted June 2021 by anonymous
Proverb USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
(calm water ruins the bridges) • Referring to the erosive power of water, it's used to describe people that come across as quiet, but they do their work without being noticed (the work having a negative connotation).
"Hai sentito che ha combinato Luca? É riuscito a fregare tutti! Chi lo avrebbe mai detto!" "Eh, l'acqua cheta rovina i ponti!"
"Have you heard about Luca? He screwed everybody! Who could have possibly told!" "Eh, calm water ruins the bridges!"
Submitted June 2021 by anonymous
Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(in the wolf's mouth) • When you're wishing someone good luck for something.
"Cosa fai oggi?" "Ho un esame d'inglese" "Ah, in bocca al lupo!"
"What are you doing today?" "I have an English exam" "Ah, in the wolf's mouth!"
Slang USED Frequently BY people aged 20-50
(Grab the dick and pull) • When someone wants to do something impossible and another person replies this intending that there is no solution.
"Volevo prendere il pullman ma è già passato..." "Ti attacchi al cazzo e tiri."
"I wanted to take the bus but it's already gone..." "Grab the dick and pull."
Italian
| Milanese
Lombardy,
Italy
Name USED On Occasion BY Some People
(little squash) • Word used in the Milanese dialect to refer to a lunchbox carrying food for school/university/work.
"Vieni a mangiare la pizza con noi?" "Andate voi, io mi sono portata la schiscetta".
"We are going out to eat pizza, are you coming with us?" "You guys go, I brought my schiscetta today".
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!"
Submitted January 2021 by anonymous
Italian
Tuscany, especially in Florence and Livorno,
Italy
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."
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."
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."
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."
Word USED Frequently BY Some People
(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."
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?"
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?"
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."
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."