Afleveringen
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From Latin CATTUS
ESSERE AGILE COME UN GATTO â to be as agile as a cat
ESSERE IN 4 GATTI â To be 4 cats, to be very few people
âCâerano solo 4 gatti allo spettacoloâ- âThere were only a few ppl at the showâ
ESSERE DEL GATTO â to be âof the catâ, to be in a bad situation, problematic, almost hopeless
âSiamo del gattoâ - âWeâre screwedâ
ESSERE COME IL GATTO E LA VOLPE â to be like the cat and the fox from Collodiâs Pinocchio, to be partners in crime
âAlessio e Massimo: eccoli lĂŹ, sempre a combinarne unaâ - â Alessio and Massimo, here they are: always confabulating somethingâ
QUANDO IL GATTO NON CâĂ I TOPI BALLANO â When the cat isnât home, the mice dance
âCome ci divertiamo ora che il capo and in vacanza! Quando il gatto non câèâŚ' - âWe have so much fun now that our boss is on vacation! when the cat isnât homeâŚâ
FARE LA GATTA MORTA â To play the dead female cat, to be super flirty!! or pretending to be sweet and masking the real nature. Refers to cats playing dead when trying to get their prey
âGuarda guarda come fa la gatta morta!! Lascia qualcosa per noi!â - âLook how sheâs flirting!! Leave something for us!â
NON DIRE GATTO FINO A CHE NON CE LâHAI NEL SACCO â Donât say cat until itâs on you sack! Donât celebrate too soon
AVERE UNA BELLA GATTA DA PELARE â To have a big cat to shave, to have a big problem to solve
GATTA CI COVA! â the cat is nursing something, like a chicken is brooding the eggs, something is happening behind closed door
âNon mi fido di quei due: qui gatta ci covaâ - â I donât trust those 2⌠something is boiling in the potâ
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From Latin MUSCA = FLY
ACCHIAPPARE LE MOSCHE - to catch flies, to do a useless job
"Cosa devo fare?" "Prendi una mosca e falla ballareâ - "What can I do?â âGet a fly and dance with herââ
ESSERE NOIOSO/ FASTIDIOSO COME UNA MOSCA, to be annoying as a fly
âGiovanni è fastidioso come una mosca: ha sempre da criticare!" - "Giovanni is as annoying as a fly: heâs always criticizingâ
STARE A GUARDARE LE MOSCHE CHE VOLANO, to stare at flying flies, being distracted, not doing anything
âE tu? che fai? Stai a guardare le mosche che volano?" - "And you, what are you doing? looking at flies?â
NON SI SENTE VOLARE UNA MOSCA, you canât even hear a fly flying for how much silence there is
âDa quando il professore si è arrabbiato, non si sente volare una moscaâ - âSince the teacher got upset, you canât hear a flyâ
ZITTO E MOSCA! Shut up as a fly!
AVERE PAURA DI UNA MOSCA, to be afraid of a fly, of nothing
FARE DI UNA MOSCA UN ELEFANTE, to make an elephant out of a fly, to make a big deal out of nothing
âHai fatto di una mosca un elefante! Eâ stato solo un fraintendimento!â - âYou made an elephant out of a fly! It was just a misunderstanding!â
RESTARE CON UN PUGNO DI MOSCHE, to be left with an handful of flies, with nothing
FAR VENIRE LA MOSCA AL NASO, to get the fly on the nose, to irritate somebody
âQuando Giacomo mi ha risposto male, mi ha fatto venire la mosca al naso, e gli ho tirato uno schiaffoâ - âWhen Giacomo replied rudely to me, made me mad and I slap him!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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From Latin PISCIS
ESSERE SANO COME UN PESCE - to be as healthy as a fish
NUOTARE COME UN PESCE - to swim like a fish, to be a perfect swimmer
NON ESSERE NEâ CARNE NEâ PESC - to be neither meat or fish, to be in between, to not have a specific flavor, personality, etc
ANDARE A FARE COMPAGNIA AI PESCI - to go keep company to the fish, to drown
NON SAPERE CHE PESCI PRENDERE - literally not knowing which fish to catch, to fish, to have ran out of options, therefore being uncertain about a the future
âNon riesco a trovare a trovare lavoro! Ho provato dappertutto! Non so piĂš che pesci prendereâ
âI canât find a job, I tried everywhere, I donât know what to fish anymore!ESSERE COME UN PESCE FUOR DâACQUA, to feel like a fish outside the water, very uncomfortable
âMamma mia, ieri alla festa mi sono sentita un pesce fuor dâacqua! Erano tutti dottori e scienziati e non sapevo neanche di cosa parlassero!'
âOh my God, last night at the party I felt like a fish out of the water(out of its element) they were all scientists and doctors and I didnât even know what they were talking aboutâTRATTARE QUALCUNO A PESCI FACCIA, to slap somebody with a fish, to treat them BADLY
âWow, sono andata in banca per chiedere un prestito, e mi hanno trattata a pesci in facciaâ
âWow, I went to the bank to ask for a loan, and they treated me horriblyâ
CHI DORME NON PIGLIA PESCI, the one who sleeps doesnât catch fish
ESSERE MUTO COME UN PESCE, to be as mute as a fish, wonât talk, wonât reveal a secret
BUTTARSI a PESCE, to throw yourself as a fish into something or into doing something
âHa cominciato il nuovo lavoro ci si è buttato a pesceâ âHe started a new job and thew himself in it, like a fishâ
FARE LâOCCHIO A PESCE MORTO, to give the dead fish eye, which, despite what the image would suggest, refers to looking at somebody in a seductive// very sweet way
PESCE Dâ APRILE, what English speakers call April fool
LâOSPITE Ă COME IL PESCE: DOPO 3 GIORNI PUZZA, A guest is like fish, on the third day it starts to smell â canât stay more than 3 days as a guest!
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From Latin CANIS
FIGLIO DI UNA CANE!! Son of a dog!!
VITA DA CANI, dogsâ life, bad life
Lavorare, vivere, mangiare, dormire DA CANI â work, live, eat, sleep badly
FA UN FREDDO CANE, itâs damn cold, literally a dog kind of cold
UN MALE CANE! - A dog's pain
âLa gamba mi fa un male caneâ âMy leg hurts like crazyâ
COME UN CANE BASTONATO, as a beaten dog
âQuando gli ho detto potevo aiutarlo, Se nâè andato come un cane bastonatoâ - âWhen I told him I couldnât help him, he left like a beaten dog, defeated and sadâ
NON CâĂ UN CANE - When a place itâs empty, deserted, literally âNot even dogs are hereâ
âMamma mia, non câè un cane in cittĂ , sono tutti in vacanzaâ- âwow, the city is empty, everybody is on vacationâ
ESSERE SOLO COME UN CANE, as lonely as a dog
MENARE IL CAN PER LâAIA, to carry, to lead the dog around the farmyard, to waste time, to drag things for too long
CAN CHE ABBAIA NON MORDE, barking dog doesnât bite
NON SVEGLIARE IL CAN CHE DORME, donât wake up a sleeping dog
UN CANE CHE SI MORDE LA CODA, a dog biting its tail literally, meaning a vicious cycle
CANINO - Canine, our sharp tooth
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From the late Latin âcranio, testaâ, originally with the meaning of âshell, vaseâ, TESTA is the Italian for HEAD.
La TESTA can be PICCOLA // GROSSA // A PERA // A PUNTA // BIANCA // PELATA // BIONDA // RICCIUTA
TESTA DURA â hard head, stubborn
TESTA DI CAVOLO! TESTA DI C****! â CAULIFLOWER/ D*** HEAD!
RIEMPIRE LA TESTA, To fill the head with something
âMi ha riempito la testa di stupidagginiâ â
âHe filled my head with stupid thingsâ
DARE ALLA TESTA, to go to oneâs head
âIl successo gli ha dato alla testaâ â
âSuccess went to his headâ
NON FASCIARSI LA TESTA PRIMA DI ESSERSELA ROTTA â Donât bandage your head before breaking it. Donât worry, donât be alarmed before knowing if something bad is actually gonna happen
âE se non passo lâesame?â âDai, non ti fasciare la testa prima di romperla! AndrĂ benissimo!â â
âWhat if I donât pass the exam?â âCome on, donât worry about it before it has even happened! Itâs gonna be great!â
TAGLIARE LA TESTA AL TORO, to cut the bullâs head, to finally make a decision
âBasta! Sono due ore che cerchiamo di decidere: tagliamo la testa al toro! Andiamo a mangiare al messicanoâ â
âEnoughâ weâve been deciding for 2 hours: letâs cut the bullâs head and letâs go to the Mexican restaurantâ
PERDERE LA TESTA, to lose your mind
âQuando si sono conosciuti, Davide ha perso la testa per Claudia: non riusciva a smettere di parlare di lei!â â
âWhen they met, David lost his mind over Claudia: he couldnât stop talking about her!â
AVERE LA TESTA FRA LE NUVOLE, to have your head in the clouds
âMio padre ha sempre la testa tra le nuvole: è un miracolo che non sia ancora caduto in un tombino!â â
âMy dad is always with his head on the clouds: itâs a miracle he hasnât fallen in a manhole!â
MONTARSI LA TESTA, literally âto build your headâ, meaning to get ahead of yourself
âDa quando ha vinto un Grammy, si è davvero montato la testaâ â
âSince he won a Grammy, he got ahead of himselfâ
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PIEDE
From Latin PES, PEDIS, itâs the Italian for FOOT!
UN PIEDE can be LUNGO// CORTO// STRETTO// LARGO
AI PIEDI DEL MONTE // COLLE at the foot of the hill
IN PIEDI = Standing, on your feet
A PIEDI = by foot, walking
âTutti in piedi!â â âEveryone stand!â,
âNon mi reggo in piediâ â âI canât hold my self upâ, said someone after one too many drinks
IN PUNTA DI PIEDI â On tiptoe
âSe nâè andato in punta di piedi, non lâho nemmeno sentito uscire!â â âHe walked out on tiptoe, I didnât even hear him leaving!â
BATTERE I PIEDI , To stamp (your feet), usually as a sign of impatience
âFrancesco batte i piedi ogni volta che vuole il gelato. Che palle!â â
âFrancesco stamps every time he wants gelato. What a pain!â
PESTARE I PIEDI A QUALCUNO, To step on someoneâs toes
âAlessio ha cambiato cittĂ . Forse ha pestato i piedi alle persone sbagliateâ â
âAlessio moved to another city. Maybe he stepped on the wrong peopleâs toes.
âNon farti pestare i piedi da nessuno!â â âDonât let anyone step on your toesâ
METTERE I PIEDI IN TESTA, To put the feet on someoneâs head as a sign of power, superiority. To walk over somebody
âNon farti mettere i piedi in testaâ â âDonât let anyone walk over you!â
ESSERE TRA I PIEDI, To be between the feet, meaning to get into each otherâs way
âMamma mia! Sei sempre tra i piedi! Ma non puoi uscire un poâ?â â âOh God, youâre always on my way! Canât you just go out of the house for a little?â
CAMMINARE CON I PIEDI DI PIOMBO, To walk with feet made of lead, to take it slow, cautiously
âLei mi piace tantissimo, ma ci vado con i piedi di piombo perchĂŠ ci conosciamo da poco e non voglio illudermiâ â
âI like her a lot but Iâll take it slow cause we just met and I donât want to be misleadâ
DARSI LA ZAPPA SUI PIEDI, To make your situation worse in the attempt to make it better, literally to throw the hoe on your foot, shooting yourself in the foot
PRENDERE PIEDE, To take over, catch on
âLa moda del selfie ha preso piede con lâarrivo dei social mediaâ â
âThe selfies trend caught on thanks to social mediaâ
METTERE IN PIEDI, To establish, to put together
âSerena ha messo in piedi una compagnia di catering da zero!â â
âSerena built a catering company from scratch!â
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BOCCA
From the Latin BUCCA = cheek, it then acquired the new meaning of MOUTH
La bocca, can be LARGA // STRETTA // REGOLARE //
CHE ARRIVA AGLI ORECCHI, mouth that opens up to the ears
CHE PARE UN FORNO, which looks like a oven
SDENTATA, with no teeth
We have expressions like:
A BOCCA PIENA , with a mouth full
ACQUA IN BOCCA! Water in your mouth â donât spill the beans, donât share this secret! BOCCONE, a bite of something
âMangio un boccone a casa e arrivoâ
âIâll grab a quick bite at home and Iâll be thereâ.
Bocca as opening or entrance
la bocca del tunnel = the mouth of the tunnel
la bocca del vulcano = the mouth of the volcano
la bocca del vaso = the mouth of the vase
la bocca del fiume = the mouth of the river
la bocca dello stomaco = the pit of oneâs stomach
ESSERE DI BOCCA BUONA, to not be a picky eater
âPer la cena di stasera non ti preoccupare: siamo tutti di bocca buonaâ
âDonât worry about tonightâs dinner: weâre not picky eatersâ
LASCIARE A BOCCA APERTA, to leave somebody open-mouthed, to surprise/ shock somebody!
âQuando Chiara mi ha detto che si era innamorata di Dario, mi ha lasciata a bocca aperta!!â â
âWhen Chiara told me that she had fallen in love with Dario, she left me with my mouth wide open!!â
RIMANERE A BOCCA APERTA: to be left open-mouthed, utterly surprised, astonished
âQuando ho visto il suo regalo, sono rimasta a bocca aperta! Era lo stesso che le avevo fatto io!â â
âWhen I saw her gift, I was left open-mouthed: it was the same one I had got her!â
LASCIARE/ RESTARE A BOCCA ASCIUTTA: to leave with a dry mouth, to leave somebody unsatisfied, to not give somebody what they expected or to be left with a dry mouth, unsatisfied
âSiamo usciti per tre volte e mi ha lasciata a bocca asciutta!!â â
âWe went on three dates and he left me with a dry mouth!â
A CAVAL DONATO NON SI GUARDA IN BOCCA, literally â You donât look inside of the mouth of a horse that has been giftedâ, you canât criticize or be too fussy about something that has been gifted to you!
FARE LA BOCCA A QUALCOSA â to get used to the idea of something (usually positive and exciting) happening.
âCosa? Non ci sono piĂš biglietti per il concerto di stasera? Dai!!! Ci avevo fatto la boccaâ â
âWhat? There are no more tickets for tonightâs concert? Come on!! I got used to the idea!â
âPiove! Non possiamo andare al mare oggi! Che peccato, ci avevo fatto la boccaâŚâ â
â Itâs raining, we canât go to the beach todayâŚwhat a pity! I really thought we were gonna go!â
RIFARSI LA BOCCA â Literally to redo your mouth. Itâs an expression we use to say we got rid of a bad taste in our mouth. Not only literal about food, but also referring to a bad situation that has been deleted in favor of a good one
âDopo quellâorribile cena mi sono rifatta la bocca con un ottimo gelato!â â
âAfter that terrible dinner, I cleaned my mouth with an excellent gelato!â
âDopo quellâorribile appuntamento con Michele, mi sono rifatta la bocca uscendo con Carloâ â
âAfter that terrible date with Michele, I got rid of the bad sensations going out with Carloâ
TOGLIERE/ STRAPPARE LE PAROLE DI BOCCA â to to take the words out of someoneâs mouth or to tear off, drag something out of somebody
âWow, mi hai tolto le parole di boccaâŚâ â
âWow, you took the words out of my mouth, you spoke my mind before I could even express myselfâ
You expressed exactly what I was thinking.
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From Latin CAMBA, Greek cambè, which means curve, articulation.
Le gambe (plural) can be LUNGHE // CORTE // SOTTILI // DRITTE // STORTE FORTI // DEBOLI // ROBUSTE
ESSERE IN GAMBA, literally âto be in your legsâ, to be in good health, strong, a very capable person!
âConosci Francesca? Eâ davvero una ragazza in gamba: non solo va allâ UniversitĂ , ha anche due lavori!â â
âFrancesca is really smart: not only she goes to College, she also has two jobs!â
PRENDERE SOTTO GAMBA, to let things under their legsâ, donât take something seriously enough.
âGiovanni fa sempre cosĂŹ: ha preso lâesame sotto gamba, non ha studiato abbastanza e non è passato!â â
âGiovanni is always the same: he let the exam under his legs(underestimated the exam), he didnât study enough and he didnât pass!â
ANDARE A GAMBE LEVATE, to run with fast legs
âHo visto Gigi lâaltro giorno: stava scappando a gambe levate da sua moglieâ â
âI saw Gig the other day: he was running like crazy from his wifeâ
CADERE A GAMBE ALLâARIA, to fall with legs in the air
âChe figuraccia!! Sono caduta dalla bicicletta a gambe allâaria!â â
âWhat a bad impression!! I fell from the bike, legs up!!â
CHI NON HA CERVELLO ABBIA GAMBE, who doesnât have brain, better have legs! Before starting any activity, better to thing about it throughly before you have to run around using your legs trying to find solutions to repair the situation
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GIALLO
GIALLO = yellow, from French JAUNE
GIALLO can be LIMONE (lemon)/ ORO (gold)/ ZAFFERANO (saffron) / CANARINO (canary).
We also use GIALLO to talk about a LIBRO GIALLO or a FILM GIALLO (a yellow book or yellow movie) meaning a DETECTIVE STORY (mystery, crime).
It comes from a long-running series of pulp crime-mystery novels known as 'Il Giallo Mondadori', named such for their bright yellow covers and the name of the publisher behind them, which directly led to the birth of the Giallo film genre.
NERO
From Latin NIGER = black
UNA GIORNATA NERA = A bad day
ESSERE NERO = to be absolutely upset
SONO INCAVOLATO NERO = Iâm black upset, super upset
LA MAGIA NERA = Black magic
PECORA NERA = black sheepVEDERE NERO = to see dark
âEh⌠la vedo neraâ = 'I see it darkâŚâ = I donât see a good thing/situation
AVERE PENSIERI NERI = to have dark thoughts
âNon facciamo il diavolo piĂš nero di quello che èâ = 'letâs not paint the devil darker, more black than what it is'
Meaning âletâs not worry too much about the obstacle right in front of us, itâs not that badâ.
Iâm gonna leave you with one of Italian most loved song of the last 2 decades.
The title is SERE NERE by Tiziano Ferro, and it goes like this, with this crazy interval
https://open.spotify.com/track/4Ovy5UkvkweOluGd9hoKsR?si=402f23d6e53e4c12 -
ROSSO
ROSSO: a fantastic color.
Il colore della passione
MATITA or PENNA ROSSA = Red pencil o pen
SEMAFORO ROSSO = Red traffic light
VINO ROSSO = Red wine
ROSSO come il FUOCO = Red as fire
ROSSO = PALLIDO (pale), ACCESO (bright), FIAMMEGGIANTE (flaming)
ROSSO COME UN PEPERONE = as red as a bell pepper or come UN POMODORO = as a tomato.
ROSSETTO = lipstick
REGIONI ROSSE (red regions)n and PARTITI ROSSI (red parties) to indicate their left, far-left, communist affiliation
'ROSSO DI SERA, BEL TEMPO SI SPERA' âŚ.
Anybody wants to guess?
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BIANCO
From the German BLANK (connected with the word BLANK in English) = white, untouched, blank.
BIANCO COME LA NEVE
BIANCO COME IL LATTE
BIANCO COME UN CENCIO, as white as a rug
MOSCA BIANCA, white fly
VOCE BIANCA// VOCI BIANCHE, kids voices, falsettos
UNA SETTIMANA BIANCA, white week literally, is a skiing week
DARE CARTA BIANCA, to give a white card, to give somebody full freedom to operate as they like
BIANCHERIA, linens and bed sheets
BIANCHERIA INTIMA, underwear.
CORRECTION!!BIANCONE, nickname for the Statue of Neptune in Piazza della Signoria in Florence.
I previously said it was referred to David's Michelangelo but it wasn't correct.
APOLOGIZE FOR THE MISTAKE!! -
VERDE
From the Latin VIRIDIS, from the root of VIRERE = to be vigorous (of plants)
Think about the adjective VIRILE in relation with strength
What can be VERDE?
IL SEMAFORO = green traffic light
GLI OCCHI = the eyes
VERDE DI PAURA = green of fear
VERDE DI RABBIA O BILE = green of anger or bile
VERDE Dâ INVIDIA = envy green
ESSERE AL VERDE or RESTARE AL VERDE = to end up with no money
TELEFONO VERDE = number that you call at NO COST, usually used by public companies
ESSERE NEL VERDE DEGLI ANNI = to be in the green phase of your years, to be young
CHI DI VERDE SI VESTE, DI BELTĂ (BELLEZZA) SI FIDA. Which translates to âwho wears green trust their beautyâ
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VIA
VIA (V-I-A), from Latin VIA, coming from the verb VEHERE, to transport.
VIA is the Italian for the word STREET, or WAY.
Thatâs the same root of WAY and the two words have, in fact, a lot of common uses.VIA (or VIALE, boulevard, when the street is bigger) is the way we call our streets.
If youâve ever been to Italy, you have read streets names like
VIA NAZIONALE
VIA TORNABUONI
VIA DELLA STAZIONE
VIA APPIA, the Appian Way, which was Romeâs and Europe's first super highway and possibly the oldest road still in existence that is largely intact today.
We say VIA MAESTRA when we talk about a main road, literally the Master Way
VIA can be STRETTA, LARGA, LUNGA, BREVE, DRITTA, TORTUOSA (windy)
We use the expression FARE UNA VIA to say âfollow a streetâ
In the Purgatory, Dante writes âMaestro mio, dissâio, che via faremo?â
There is this say in Italian : CHI LASCIA LA VIA VECCHIA PER QUELLA NUOVA, SA QUELLO CHE LASCIA MA NON SA QUELLO CHE TROVA, which I find it has a very cautious vibe, not surprising considering how Italians fear change!
TORNARE SULLA RETTA VIA, to go back to the righteous way
NON CâĂ ALTRA VIA, thereâs no other way
NON CâĂ VIA DâUSCITA, thereâs no way out
VIA LATTEA is our beloved Milky Way (galaxĂŹas cĂšclos in greek)
VIA RADIO, VIA SATELLITE, VIA EMAIL, same way English speakers use the word VIA to say âby means ofâ
ANDARE VIA, to leave, to go away â you can see how AWAY has way and therefore WAY in it!
VAI VIA!!, go away
VIA VIA, with a calm tone, means little by little
but VIA, VIA, means come on, letâs go
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PIAZZA
From the Latin PLATEA = wide street, from greek PLATEIA = PLATUS = wide
LETTO A DUE PIAZZE, a queen or king bed, a bed for two
NON URLARE! NON SEI IN PIAZZA! Donât yell, youâre not in piazza!!
NON VOGLIO METTERE I MIEI PROBLEMI IN PIAZZA, I donât want to put my problems out on the piazza, I donât want to share them publicly
SCENDERE IN PIAZZA, to go down on the streets, to take the streets
PARLARE ALLE PIAZZE, to talk with the masses
QUEL CHE OFFRE LA PIAZZA, meaning what the market offers.
EHH, PRENDERĂ QUEL CHE OFFRE LA PIAZZA, Iâll get what the market offers
UNA PIAZZA DâARMI, a very big space
FARE PIAZZA, to make space
FARE PIAZZA PULITA, to eliminate, to get rid of something
ESSERE SU PIAZZA, being romantically available
BRUTTO IN FASCE BELLO IN PIAZZA, ugly as a kid, beautiful as an adult
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From greek APOTHEKE = storage,warehouse
BOTTEGA DI MERCIAIO, sewing goods, DI FERRAMENTA, hardware, FORNAIO, baker
BOTTEGA DI MICHELANGELO, or BOTTEGA DI DONATELLO, del BERNINI, and all the other big ones.
DI BOTTEGA, a piece, an artwork that wasnât probably made by the main artist himself but by his students.
CHIUDERE LA BOTTEGA, closing the business ,
HO CHIUSO BOTTEGA ALLA 6, I cose the shop at 6
ESSERE USCIO A BOTTEGA, To live where you work
ESSERE CASA E BOTTEGA, to not get distracted, to be all about work and home
METTERE IL FIGLIO A BOTTEGA, to put your son in a bottega, meaning to have him learn a profession
AVERE LA BOTTEGA APERTA! To have the bottega open, meaning to have the zipper of your pants open!
ATTENTO! HAI LA BOTTEGA APERTA! Watch out! Your zipper is open!
MANDARE AVANTI LA BOTTEGA, to keep the business ( and the money) going
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MARCIAPIEDE
From French MARCHER= to walk and PED = foot
STARE SUL MARCIAPIEDE, to be on the sidewalk),
CAMMINARE sul marciapiede, to walk on the sidewalk
MARCIAPIEDE STRETTO, narrow or LARGO, big
BATTERE IL MARCIAPIEDE, literally meaning to beat the sidewalk, exercising prostitution.
SEMAFORO
From the greek SEMA= sign, signal and FERO= port.
LE PERSONE IRRESPONSABILI PASSANO CON IL SEMAFORO ROSSO, irresponsible people pass with a red light
ANDIAMO! Ă SCATTATO IL (SEMAFORO) VERDE! Letâs go, the green has kicked in
Il SEMAFORO LAMPEGGIA DA STAMATTINA, the traffic light has been flashing since this morning
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ACQUA
From the Latin AQUA = water
ACQUA pura, pure // dolce, sweet water (fresh water)// salata, salt water // limpida, clear // torbida, murky
ACQUA A CATINELLE, basin/washbowls of waters, for when itâs raining profusely
LâACQUA VIENE A DIROTTO, another way to say that the rain is pouring
PRENDERE LâACQUA, ieri ho preso lâacqua mentre andavo a lavoro, I got water// I got rain while I was going to work
CIELO A PECORELLE, ACQUA A CATINELLE, If the clouds in the sky look like a lot of sheep, then is gonna pour rain
AVERE Lâ ACQUOLINA IN BOCCA, to have a watery mouth
FRIGGERE CON LâACQUA, QUI NON SI FRIGGE CON LâACQUA, We donâ t fry with water, meaning we do things the right way and with class
LASCIAR CORRERE LâACQUA, to let the water run, to let it go
ESSERE CON LâACQUA ALLA GOLA, to have the water up until your throat, to run out of time
TIRARE LâACQUA AL PROPRIO MULINO, to bring water to your mill, to act out of convenience
ACQUA CHETA, literally a silent water. Itâs said about people who seems silent and inoffensive, but theyâre actually the ones which destroy the bridges
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FUOCO
From Latin FOCUS = fire, flame
METTERE A FUOCO, to focus, in photography but also in everyday life
NON RIESCO A METTERE A FUOCO, I canât focus, concentrate
AVERE LE MANI/FACCIA/GAMBE A FUOCO, to have hands, face etc on fire, very hot
METTERE TROPPA CARNE AL FUOCO, to put too much meat on the fire, bite off more than you can chew
SETTIMANA DI FUOCO, usuale used to define a very hectic week
VIGILI DEL FUOCO, our beloved fire fighters
FUOCO DELLA PASSIONE, the fire of passion
FAR FUOCO E FIAMME, be explosive
FOCOSO, passionate
FOCOLARE, literally the fireplace, also to express where home is
FOCALIZZARE, to focus
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TERRA
From Latin TERRA = dry part, as opposed to water part.
Earth, world, as a globe, but also ground, land
CADERE PER TERRA// MI Ă CADUTO IL CELLULARE PER TERRA, I dropped the phone on the ground
BUTTARE A TERRA, to throw in the ground
SDRAIARSI PER TERRA , to lay down on the ground
ESSERE A TERRA, to feel down, to have a low morale
OGGI SONO A TERRA, Today I feel down
TERRA NATALE, motherland
TERRA DI NESSUNO, no manâs land
FARSI TERRA BRUCIATA, literally to burn the ground, to create desert around you, to burn bridges
AVERE UNA GOMMA A TERRA, to have a flat tire
MANCARE LA TERRA SOTTO I PIEDI, To have the ground is missing under your feet
QUANDO MI HA DATO LA NOTIZIA, MI Ă MANCATA LA TERRA SOTTO I PIEDI, When he gave me the news, I couldnât feel the ground under my feet
COSE CHE NON STANNO NĂ IN CIELO NĂ IN TERRA, things that shouldnât exist neither on land or water
TERRA TERRA, mediocre, flat.
QUEL LIBRO NON Ă MOLTO PROFONDO, Ă PIUTTOSTO TERRA TERRA, That book is not that deep, is very basic
Alessandro Manzoni,
âIl cinque Maggioâ
Ei fu. Siccome immobile,
Dato il mortal sospiro,
Stette la spoglia immemore
Orba di tanto spiro,
CosĂŹ percossa, attonita
La terra al nunzio sta,
Muta pensando allâultima
Ora dellâuom fatale;
Nè sa quando una simile
Orma di piè mortale
La sua cruenta polvere
A calpestar verrĂ .
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ARIA
from the greek AER = AIR.
Lâ ARIA can be fine (thin) // leggera (light) // grave, pesante (heavy) // calda o fredda // tiepida (warm) or gelata (freezing)
Ă BELLO MANGIARE ALLâ ARIA APERTA , Itâs great to eat open air, outside
ODDIO, QUI MANCA LâARIA, Oh God, the air is missing here! Thereâs no air
or
NON CâĂ UN FILO DâARIA , thereâs not even a strand of air
CHIUDI LA PORTA, CâĂ CORRENTE DâARIA , close the door, thereâs a current, stream of air coming
PRENDERE UNA BOCCATA Dâ ARIA , literally to go get a mouthful of air, meaning go outside so you can refresh your spirit, your lungs, your body
ORA DâARIA itâs the âfreeâ time inmates have in jail,
VENDERE Lâ ARIA FRITTA, which means to sell fried air, that is, nothing, referring to somebody whoâs deceiving you
MA VAAA! LEI VENDE ARIA FRITTA, LO SO! Come on!! She sells fried air, I know!
NON Ă ARIA, âthatâs not the right momentâ
LASCIA STARE MICHELE, NON Ă ARIA OGGI , donât bother Michele, itâs not a good moment, itâs not the case
DARSI DELLE ARIE, to brag about something, to be full of yourself
NON SOPPORTO CHIARA PERCHĂ SI DĂ SEMPRE DELLE ARIE, I canât stand Chiara because sheâs always full of herself
MANDARE ALLâ ARIA , to f⌠up, to screw up, literally to send in the air
FARE CASTELLI IN ARIA, to fantasize about things, to create things in your head that donât really exist
GUARDARE PER ARIA , referring to people who always look up
PAROLE CAMPATE IN ARIA!, words that have no foundation and probably no futureAVERE UNâ ARIA (assente, di superioritĂ , benigna, semplice), referring to the expression of the face, the aura etc
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