italian colloquial expressions

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Italian slang: Essere tra le nuvole…

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

It’s something that happens often in springtime! Have you ever experienced the feeling of being somewhere else than where you actually are? That’s what we define in Italian Essere tra le nuvole, which means to daydream, to be “in the clouds”…but without flying of course! :D

Maybe you’re in love? Maybe you’re bored and you would like to be in a wonderful place? Your eyes look towards the sky and you seem to be asleep…with your eyes open! You’re tra le nuvole…a good thing to feel happy…but mind your steps!

Wanna learn more about Italian colloquial expression? Have a look to our intensive fully-personalized Italian courses.

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Italian slang: tirare un bidone.

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Don’t worry, we’re not talking about being mad at someone and throwing him a trash can, also if this expression litarally means it! No violence here :D

The expression “Tirare un bidone”  to someone, just means to stand someone up on a dare or appointment; it’s not a polite behaviour, of course, but anyway better than throwing a trash can!

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Italian slang: Avere le mani bucate

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Those who like shopping, and who end up at the end of a day without being able to remember how or where they spent all your money, have definitelly “le mani bucate”, which in English is translated as “they have holes in their hands”!

It is of course a slang, a colloquial expression used to define a person who spends a lot and easily, without being aware of it. Since this period in Florence we have sales, whatch out for the holes in your hands! You could loose all your  money on clothes and accessories :)

The Italian language is full of colloquial expression, which can be well understood only by those who really know the language in all her forms – with the Italian language courses at the Institute Galilei, you will have a personalized program created according to your interests and needs. Colloquial expressions and conversation can, on request, be studied and emphasized.

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Italian slang: “In bocca al lupo!”

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

The Italian language is full of typical words and expression that foreigner people usually do not understand. Let’s try to learn some of them!

“IN BOCCA AL LUPO”

Coming to Italy, you will hear for sure this common expression. Literally translated as “in the mouth of the wolf”, it’s the common Italian way to wish good luck. It’s a scaramantic term: to go “into the wolf’s mouth” means, in fact, to go directly into troubles. As answer, the Italians usually say “Crepi il lupo!” (wish that the wolfs dies!).

The origin of this funny expression is not clear; it probably came out from the rural world, where farmers used to consider the wolf as a big danger, because wolves eats the other animals. Another possible origin can be found in the Romolo and Remo story, who were saved by a she-wolf which take them into her mouth.

So, when someone tells you “In bocca al lupo” don’t be scared! He’s just wishing you good luck :)

The Institute Galilei offers personalized programs  for Italian language courses where all the aspects of the Italian language can be axplored, according to the students’ interests and needs.

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