Note: See the Italian slang section for stronger language (if you’re not easily offended…). Note: Some of the new phrases added here are rude!
Alla Come Viene, Viene
[To do something] sloppily, literally “it comes out as it comes out.”
Alla Meglio
[To do something] as best one can, with the implication that this isn’t very good.
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.
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.
In Bocca al Lupo
“Into the wolf’s mouth”. I don’t know why, but this is the phrase used instead of “Good luck” before an event, exam, etc., somewhat in the sense of “You never say ‘good luck’ on opening night” (instead you say “Break a leg”).
The proper response is Crepi il lupo (“May the wolf die” – which is to say: “I’m going into the wolf’s mouth, and may he choke on me.”)
A ruder version used nowadays is In culo alla balena – in the whale’s ass. I’m not sure whether the whale is also supposed to die.
Botte Piccola Fa Vino Buono
“A small cask makes good wine” – A friendly compliment to a short person.
Buona Notte al Secchio
Literally, “good night to the bucket”, iIt’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.” A stock phrase typically used in situations when someone or something has unexpectedly behaved very badly, e.g. the Rottweiler who just killed a child, to its owner’s vast surprise: “He always seemed as good as bread!”
Caduto dalle Nuvole
“Fallen from the clouds” – Completely surprised, or pretending to be.
Casino
[cah-ZEEN-o] A mess. Can also be used figuratively: Siamo incasinati – “We’re in a mess” (or “we’re very busy”). This one is okay for polite company. Can also be used like “a lot”: Mi piace un casino – “I like it a lot.”
Chi Me Lo Fa Fare?
Literally, “Who makes me do it?” Used as “Why should I do it?”
Comandare é meglio che fottere
A Sicilian proverb (which I cannot render in the original Sicilian) meaning “It is better to command than to fuck.”
Dalle Stelle alle Stalle
“[To go] from the stars to the [horse] stalls” – to fall from grace. I’m not sure whether this was originally used in the opposite form, about someone who’d had a meteoric career, but it seems I’ve heard it more often used this way.
Dente Avvelenato
Every now and then I stumble across a phrase I can’t easily translate from Italian into English, or vice-versa. Those are usually the most interesting ones, from a cultural point of view. Friends asked my opinion of the Italian school system; my reply began: C’ho il dente avvelenato. Literally, “I have a poison tooth,” this phrase implies: “When I speak on this topic, be aware that I am foaming-at-the-mouth furious about it, and anything I say is colored by that.”
Dio Ce Ne Scampi
May God make us avoid it
– i.e., “God forbid
.”
Dio li Fa, poi li Accoppia
“God makes them, then he mates them.” Said of any couple or pair who seem destined to be together by reason of sheer eccentricity.
Fuori (di Testa)
[FWOR-ee di testa] Out (of your mind). Sometimes used in the phrase fuori come un balcone – “out[side] like a balcony” – crazy as a loon (or whatever equivalent English expression for extreme craziness).
Guai
[GWAH-ee] Troubles. Siamo nei guai – “We’re in trouble(s).”
Metterci il Cappello
To put one’s hat on (top of) – to falsely claim ownership or credit for.
Modestamente Parlando
“Speaking modestly” or, in more colloquial English, “in all modesty…” Usually used ironically.
Most famously used by the Neapolitan actor Toto’: Signori si nasce. E io, modestamente parlando, lo nacqui.
“One is born a lord [gentleman]. And I, in all modesty, was born one.”
Occhio Scuro e Cappello Biondo é il Piu’ Bello del Mondo
“Dark eyes and blonde hair are the most beautiful in the world.” Well, of course, I agree!
Parlare Fuori dai Denti
“To speak outside of one’s teeth” – to say openly what’s on your mind. I suppose this is the opposite of speaking through clenched teeth, as you tend to do when restraining yourself from saying what you really think.
Peli Sulla Lingua
Literally, “hairs on the tongue.” Usually used in the negative form: “He doesn’t have hairs on his tongue,” meaning that he speaks plainly (perhaps even viciously), without flattery. I suppose the idea is that having hairs on your tongue would make your tongue less harsh, but – ick! Who would want hairs on their tongue anyway?
Peli Sulla Pancia
Literally, “hairs on the stomach.” Again, usually used in the negative form: not having hairs on one’s stomach means to be tough, able to stand up to criticism.
Piove sul Bagnato
“It rains on what’s [already] wet” – too much of a good thing.
Sposa Bagnata, Sposa Fortunata
“A wet bride [is a] lucky bride.” What you say to console her when it rains on her wedding day!
Ti Amo vs. Ti Voglio Bene
Two different ways to say “I love you” in Italian.
Tira piu’ un pelo di figa che un carro di buoi
“A cunt hair pulls [attracts] more than an oxcart.” In other words, the power of sex overcomes all other forces!
“Every Death of a Pope”
Apr 3, 2005
Italians have two sayings related to the deaths of popes. One is the phrase ogni morte di papa – “every death of a pope,” used for rare events, much like the English “once in a blue moon.”
The other is Morto un papa, se ne fa un’altro– “one pope dies, they make another.” Which shows just how blasé Italians are about popes and the workings of the Vatican. It is widely believed in Italy that the pope who preceded John Paul II was murdered (after only a month in office) because he showed radically liberal tendencies. This cannot be proven: the Vatican is a sovereign state, so it can (and did) refuse the Italian police permission to autopsy.
But the Italians are making as much fuss as the rest of the world about the death of this particular pope (John Paul II). I found the papal deathwatch disgusting, about on a par with the Terry Schiavo* mess, and have ignored both as much as possible (which hasn’t been easy).
And that is all I’m going to say about it.
Note: See the Italian slang section for stronger language (if you’re not easily offended…).
What Italian sayings am I missing? Let me know!
I’d like to know the meaning of the Italian idiom, “Il viso e lo specchio del’anima.”
Thanks.
“The face is the mirror of the soul.”
hello D,
I’d like to make some comment to italian idioms.
“in culo alla balena”: maybe it was originated from a sort of game of putting together opposites of the words that together make an idiom. one may ask: what’s the opposite of a wolf? well, say an animal that live in different ambient (water), is different in size and behavior, has something strange that will help to impress and also goes along well when pronouncing it. balena (whale) will do. and what’s another body part where one could go? supposedly a whale’s one should be big enough to accomodate peoples.
the common answer to “in culo alla balena” (like in: “in bocca al lupo” – “crepi”) is “speriamo ce l’abbia pulito”, “let’s hope it is (she keep it) clean”.
about the hairs on the stomach: I’ve always heard and read it as “peli sullo *stomaco*”, never as “peli sulla pancia”.
another idiom that involves stomach or belly is a sicilian one that anyway has spread nationally: “omo de panza” (dialect – not sicilian anyway – for “uomo di pancia”, something like “big bellied man”). in the sicilian meaning is for a man that keep everithing inside him, so a trustworthy one, one that is not going to talk about secrets. sometimes there’s a rhyme: omo de panza omo de sostanza”, “bellied man, full of substance”, where substance may be plain material wealth or generical good attributes.
the pope that reigned for such a short period is not John Paul II, papa Woitila, but John Paul I (first), papa Luciani. He choose his name by joining the names of his illustrious predecessors, John XXIII (papa Roncalli) and Paul VI (papa Montini) whose papacy had very important effects on the Church, as a sort of vote to continue their work.
Good evening, I have an unusual question. My mother and her sister have taught my 5 year old to say “goofer dama soey fraca muchie” I have no idea what the spelling is, nor if it means anything. My mother said HER grandmother told her a neighbor used to say it to her.
Please let me know if this is something my Daughter should, or should not be saying. I do not want her to offend anyone.
Thank you Randall H. Tyler
rtyler7421@comcast.net
Well, just a specification…
.
the answer i know to “in culo alla balena” (like in: “in bocca al lupo” – “crepi”) is “speriamo che caghi , “let’s hope she’s going to shit”, an ugly solution to be freed…
I didn’t ever hear “speriamo ce l’abbia pulito”, “let’s hope it is (she keep it) clean”, maybe i grew up in bad company
Meanwhile i’d like to use “she” as pronoun for a whale (or he if a male?).
Whales are higly self-awareness beings, maybe more than dolphins, and it’s a shame that we keep hunting them…(well i adore Melville’s Moby Dick, is that a contradiction?)
Cuor forte rompe cattiva sorte”-Proverbio Italiano
I would like to know how to say “rain check” in Italian.
Grazie!
A
what is the italian word for “To Putter?”
Significa che attraverso il volto di una persona si vede com’è dentro. Com’è la sua anima. La faccia di una persona è uno specchio in cui si riflette la sua anima. Spero di essermi spiegata.
Oh I think I misunderstood the question, I was answering the 1st comment, but I guess you are looking for italian idioms… here are a few:
acqua cheta rompe ponti – calm water breakes bridges
meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani – it’s better to have and egg today that the promise of a cick tomorrow
a buon intenditor poche parole
pietra che ruzzola non fa muschio – rocks who rolls doesn’t make “muschio”?!
for others with english translation go here: http://italian.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/aa081402a.htm
A friend of mine told me that: “I was not the kind of flour that would be used for making the holy sacrament bread!” Naturally, I took offence to this! Then, he proceeded to tell me that he was just being a good friend! I do not understand this one. To me, it says that you do not possess the fine qualities that we would use to make something even better………..how rude! Totally offensive! Then, he told me that I couldn’t understand the Italian meaning behind it! It was a popular Italian saying! Please help!
I saw a plaque in Rome that read “Un Bacio e il Cibo per il Cuore”,
A couple of favorites:
Chi troppo vuole non l’ottiene- If you want too much you won’t get it.
Mangi la minestra o salt’dalla finestra- Eat the soup or jump out the window; IE my way or the highway.
Renee, your friend was not trying to offend you, it’s a sardonic way of saying that you’re not goody two-shoes, or even that you don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Many Italians have a deep distrust of the church and there are a lot of idioms that express that.
“In Bocca di Lupo” refers to Romulus and Remus who were suckled by the she-wolf when they flew from Greece to Rome. Romulus became the twin for whom Rome was named; therefore to be in the mouth of the wolf means that you are nurtured and taken care of.
My mother use to always say “in casa di bats” I know the spelling is off, but she meant the house of crazy people–I think the correct word is batso?!
One of my favorite that I learned in Italian class in high school:
“Tutti i gusti sono gusti.” To each his own taste.
How do you translate in English “Inzuppare il pane” meaning to insist on a (usually unpleasant) situation to increase one’s advantage
i want translation for italian songs (lyrics)
There is a proverb the beginning of which is “Egli ch ridi
senza causa….” I don’t know the last part. Perhaps you can help. I believe the translation is “He who laughs without cause……… Sincerely, Joseph Gangemi
Far venire latte alle ginocchia….
weird one, literally it means to have milk in your knees… i think it means, makes you scared.
First of all I don’t speak Italian and am not a good speller even in English. My father used to use the expression see Naples and die. This was as close as he came to bad language. I never got it, but I think it is similer to go to hell in English.
Domenic Tarducci
Actually, as far as I know it’s meant to a compliment to Naples: once you’ve seen the city, there is nothing more wonderful in the world left to see. Unfortunately, these days it tends to be used ironically…
“in culo alla balena” “up the bum of the whale” is a rather rude expression not to be used in polite company, but I was always led to believe it was a strictly Theatrical term used in the same way as “Break a leg”… with reply “spero che non caca” “hope it doesn’t poo” being an ironic answer. It has become more common to use it outwith but only between friends.
I’ve always loved “porca la miseria” literally “pork the misery” when you are exasperated or fed up by something. There are other varients on the same theme. For example: “porco dio” only when you are really, really peeved. Heard it only once in public on the metro in Rome as a man with a broken leg, was being trampled on by rush hour passengers. After a few mutterings he just cried out “prorrrrccco DIO, c’ho la gamba rotta, dammi spazio” the whole carriage fell silent.
Here are a few from Abbruzzo
Pane e panello caccia figli’ bello. Pane senza mazza caccia figli’ pazza.
(Bread and a board makes beautiful children. Bread without the switch makes for crazy kids.
Fregatura! Rip-off.
I’m trying to recall a phrase, “… finito” for the end of an impassioned argument or polemic, to indicate that one is now getting off of one’s high horse. Any clues?
Acqua di rosa. I heard three opinions on this phrase.
1. morning dew on a rose indicating purity or freshness.
2. liquid extracted from roses to make perfume.
3. something superficial, not to be takien seriously
or to brush off lightly.
Do we have a winner here?
I’m not an italian speaker (well, only a bit), so please excuse the probably awful spelling, but my friend’s dad is Italian and he has a great one:
“La vita e come l’albero di natale – che sempre cualcuno che rompe le pale!”
Life is life a Christmas tree – there’s always someone who’ll break your balls!
A bit like “life is like a box of chocolates…” but better, I think!
In reference to why “buona notte al secchio” might have reference to both a bucket and being “in the shit,” if the phrase originated before indoor plumbing became commonplace, the toilet would have likely been a simple bucket kept under the bed. A “buona notte al secchio” would thus be one where said bucket did NOT get knocked over (and spilled). Also, if the desire was for vigorous physical activity on the mattress above, then a “buona notte al secchio” would be one that’s unfortunately boring for the folk in that bed.
Which one is a good sentence in english that would reflect the proverbio AVERE IL COLTELLO DALLA PARTE DEL MANICO?
tnx
AVERE IL COLTELLO DALLA PARTE DEL MANICO literally means “to have the knife by the handle.” I guess you could say in English “to have the upper hand.”
Does anyone know the term “Asca Vega” or “Aska Vega”?
“In culo ai lupi” means literally in the wolves’ ass” it means a place very far away.
my grandmother had a word or a saying for passing the meat she cooked in the pasta sauce when we ate. i can’t remember the slang she called it, does any one know what i am talking about?
To the creator of this site,
You should know the word “casino”, contrary to your suggestion,is NOT suitable for polite company as it means “house of ill repute” or “brothel”,etc. Hopefully this will spare your readers any future embarrassment.
Casino is no more rude to any Italians I’ve ever met than “house of ill repute” or “brothel” would be to an English-speaker.
I don’t know if anyone is familar with the Sicilians use of ‘cugina Guiseppina’ (cousin Josie)as an example of what happens to children who misbehave. This is where you use two unrefutable facts, totally divorced from each other, to present a convoluted argument.
An example: Daughter wants to stay at a friend’s house.
“Cugina Guiseppina stayed at a boy’s house once -57 years later she died!”
Actually, it’s in here. Search the site.