![]() The wise priest suggested that she drink a miraculous elixir that, when she spoke, would stop her desire to gossip and reveal other peoples’ secrets. “What do I have to do to quit talking behind peoples’ backs and stop committing this sin?” she asked. I’d like to conclude the “water trilogy” with a turn of phrase that has a hilarious origin.Īccording to legend, a devout woman who was particularly gossipy asked her priest for help in confession. If, for example, a billionaire wins the lottery, or someone who’s just been dumped by their fiance loses their wallet, that’s an example of the expression “When it rains, it pours,” and it’s just not fair! Acqua in bocca! Piove sul bagnatoĪlong with the expression, “Those with teeth don’t have bread, and those with bread don’t have teeth,” this expression epitomizes my indignation when something truly unfair happens to someone who doesn’t deserve it. In Italian, for example, when someone has irritated or shortchanged someone, we “send them to that country”…but which country? Nobody knows exactly, but plenty of people have been exiled there. Just like in every language, these expressions often have murky origins that make them even more fascinating. When said jokingly, these idioms can be funny. Mandare a quel paeseĪn entirely separate article could be dedicated to idiomatic insults in the Italian language. If “it doesn’t rain here,” it means that there’s no room for doubt or ambiguity. It’s similar to the English expression, “Make no bones about it.” It also perfectly describes the inevitable certainty of what is being expressed. Like most expressions that involve weather and disasters, this expression has folk origins. ![]() For example, one might say, “Don’t just sit there with your hands in hand, help me with this suitcase!” Illustrations by Elena Lombardi Non ci piove This expression is used in situations where one person isn’t working, while everyone around them is doing their part. After all, telling an Italian that they have their “hands in hand” is like picking someone apart and raking them over the coals. Certainly it’s a little easier to understand the negative connotation now. Now that we’ve established Italians’ love for body language, let’s examine this expression a bit. We use hand gestures like the Germans, who famously create seemingly endless compound words to express enigmatic and complicated concepts. In Italy, we use hand gestures like crazy, and we often carry on entire conversations by weaving hand signals into our sentences. 12 Italian Expressions That Are The Envy Of The Rest Of The World Stare con le mani in mano So, without further ado, here’s a list of Italian idiomatic expressions that I use (and love) the most. Truthfully, some Italian expressions can also be translated literally. We mostly speak English together (while I punctuate my sentences with wild gesticulations, of course), but a lot of times I find myself myself at a loss when I try to find the equivalent of a few typically Italian expressions that are perfect for describing specific concepts. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer, and therefore I love everything to do with words, but I’d say that my nostalgia stems from the charming and familiar cadence of my mother tongue. If I take a moment to think about my experiences, I realize that living abroad has not only helped me challenge myself and find myself, but it’s also been a way, albeit painfully, to come to terms with what I miss most about Italy. I’d had enough of books and essays I wanted to travel the world and figure out what to do with my post-graduate life while I was on the road.Įight years, five countries and twelve homes later, here I am. I only had one thing in mind: packing my bags and leaving. ![]() Unfortunately, I wasn’t exactly optimistic about my future in the field of diplomacy. In 2008, my professor gave me a firm handshake and declared that I was officially a “Master’s in Political Science.” But the only thing I managed to feel was an incredible sense of liberation after all those years of studying like a chicken with my head cut off. These expressions are the main reason why I fell in love with the Italian language, and why I talk about them so often. Most Italian expressions have popular origins that tell us a little bit about our history. Some have Biblical roots, while others have literary origins. The Italian language is brimming with idiomatic expressions.
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