Modismos: Comida
Modismos italianos sobre comida y bebida — 200 expresiones
A2 — Elemental
Non vale una cipolla
"It's not worth an onion"
It is worth absolutely nothing
"Quell'orologio non vale una cipolla — è una copia."
"That watch is worth absolutely nothing — it's a fake."
Buono come il pane
"Good as bread"
Very kind-hearted / a genuinely good person
"La nonna è buona come il pane — aiuta sempre tutti."
"Grandma is a genuinely good person — she always helps everyone."
Avere gli occhi più grandi della pancia
"To have eyes bigger than one's belly"
To take more than you can handle / to be overly ambitious
"Ha ordinato quattro piatti ma non ha finito niente — aveva gli occhi più grandi della pancia."
"He ordered four dishes but didn't finish anything — his eyes were bigger than his belly."
Essere la ciliegina sulla torta
"To be the cherry on the cake"
To be the perfect finishing touch / the best part
"Il discorso del sindaco è stato la ciliegina sulla torta di una serata perfetta."
"The mayor's speech was the perfect finishing touch to a perfect evening."
Essere acqua passata
"To be water that has passed"
To be water under the bridge / to be in the past
"Quella lite tra noi? È acqua passata — siamo di nuovo amici."
"That argument between us? It's water under the bridge — we're friends again."
Come il cacio sui maccheroni
"Like cheese on macaroni"
Perfectly fitting / arriving at just the right moment
"Sei arrivato come il cacio sui maccheroni — avevamo bisogno di te!"
"You arrived at just the right moment — we needed you!"
Essere come l'acqua e il fuoco
"To be like water and fire"
To be total opposites / completely incompatible
"Quei due fratelli sono come l'acqua e il fuoco — non vanno mai d'accordo."
"Those two brothers are total opposites — they never get along."
Mangiare in bianco
"To eat in white"
To eat plain / bland food (when sick or dieting)
"Dopo la gastrite devo mangiare in bianco per una settimana."
"After the gastritis I have to eat plain food for a week."
Avere il vino addosso
"To have wine on oneself"
To be drunk
"Non starlo a sentire — ha il vino addosso."
"Don't listen to him — he's drunk."
Essere un pesce fuor d'acqua
"To be a fish out of water"
To feel out of place / uncomfortable in a situation
"A quella festa di gala mi sentivo un pesce fuor d'acqua."
"At that gala party I felt completely out of place."
Avere altro pesce da friggere
"To have other fish to fry"
To have more important things to deal with
"Non posso occuparmi di questa questione adesso — ho altro pesce da friggere."
"I can't deal with this matter now — I have more important things to deal with."
Fare venire l'acquolina in bocca
"To make water come to the mouth"
To make someone's mouth water / to whet one's appetite
"Quella pubblicità della pizza mi fa venire l'acquolina in bocca."
"That pizza advertisement makes my mouth water."
Essere fritto
"To be fried"
To be done for / finished / in big trouble
"Se il capo scopre quello che hai fatto, sei fritto."
"If the boss finds out what you did, you're done for."
Avere il dente dolce
"To have a sweet tooth"
To have a sweet tooth / to love sweet things
"Ho il dente dolce — non riesco mai a resistere al gelato."
"I have a sweet tooth — I can never resist ice cream."
Fare la figura del salame
"To make the figure of the salami"
To make a fool of oneself / to look ridiculous
"Ho sbagliato tutte le risposte davanti al professore — ho fatto la figura del salame."
"I got all the answers wrong in front of the professor — I made a complete fool of myself."
Essere come pane e burro
"To be like bread and butter"
To be inseparable / to always go together
"Marco e Luca sono come pane e burro — dove va uno va l'altro."
"Marco and Luca are inseparable — where one goes, the other follows."
Nella botte piccola c'è il vino buono
"In the small barrel there is good wine"
Good things come in small packages
"È piccolo ma velocissimo — nella botte piccola c'è il vino buono!"
"He is small but very fast — good things come in small packages!"
Essere un osso duro
"To be a hard bone"
To be a tough nut to crack / a hard opponent
"Il prossimo avversario è un osso duro — dobbiamo prepararci bene."
"The next opponent is a tough nut to crack — we need to prepare well."
Essere tutto pepe
"To be all pepper"
To be full of energy and spirit / to be feisty
"Quella bambina è tutta pepe — non sta mai ferma un momento."
"That little girl is full of spirit — she never stays still for a moment."
Non fare né caldo né freddo
"To make neither hot nor cold"
To leave someone indifferent / to not matter at all
"La sua opinione non mi fa né caldo né freddo."
"His opinion leaves me completely indifferent."
Essere una mela marcia
"To be a rotten apple"
To be a bad influence that corrupts others
"In ogni gruppo c'è sempre una mela marcia che rovina tutto."
"In every group there is always a rotten apple that spoils everything."
Fare il cavolo
"To do cabbage"
To do nothing useful / to be completely idle (mild expletive)
"Cosa stai facendo? — Niente, faccio il cavolo."
"What are you doing? — Nothing, absolutely nothing."
Non capirci un cavolo
"To not understand a cabbage about it"
To not understand anything at all
"Ho letto le istruzioni tre volte ma non ci capisco un cavolo."
"I've read the instructions three times but I don't understand a thing."
Essere una pizza
"To be a pizza"
To be extremely boring
"Quella conferenza era una pizza — mi sono quasi addormentato."
"That conference was incredibly boring — I almost fell asleep."
Avere la testa come una zucca
"To have a head like a pumpkin"
To be thick-headed / to not get things into the head
"Gli ho spiegato la regola dieci volte — ha la testa come una zucca."
"I explained the rule to him ten times — he's thick-headed."
Bere come una spugna
"To drink like a sponge"
To drink excessively / to be a heavy drinker
"A quella festa beveva come una spugna — non si fermava mai."
"At that party he was drinking like a fish — he never stopped."
Avere le mani di burro
"To have butter hands"
To have butter fingers / to drop things constantly
"Ha le mani di burro — ha già rotto due bicchieri stamattina."
"He has butter fingers — he's already broken two glasses this morning."
Essere come il vino: migliora con gli anni
"To be like wine: it improves with age"
To get better with age
"Guarda quanto è in forma a 60 anni — come il vino, migliora con gli anni."
"Look how fit he is at 60 — like wine, he gets better with age."
Fare la frittata
"To make the omelette"
To make a mess of things / to botch something
"Pensava di aggiustare il problema ma ha fatto la frittata."
"He thought he was fixing the problem but he made a mess of things."
Fare il pieno
"To fill up (the tank)"
To eat a lot / to stuff oneself
"A Natale facciamo sempre il pieno — si mangia per ore."
"At Christmas we always stuff ourselves — we eat for hours."
Stare sullo stomaco
"To sit on the stomach"
To be deeply irritating / to get on the nerves
"Quella persona mi sta sullo stomaco — non la sopporto."
"That person really gets on my nerves — I cannot stand them."
Tutto fa brodo
"Everything makes broth"
Every little helps / it all adds up
"Anche piccoli risparmi sono utili — tutto fa brodo."
"Even small savings are useful — every little helps."
Fare la scarpetta
"To make the little shoe"
To mop up sauce with bread / to enjoy to the last drop
"Il sugo era così buono che tutti hanno fatto la scarpetta."
"The sauce was so good that everyone mopped up their plates with bread."
Avere il latte versato
"To have spilled milk"
No use crying over spilled milk / what's done is done
"Ormai il latte è versato — pensa al futuro."
"What's done is done — think about the future."
Avere il sale e il pepe nei capelli
"To have salt and pepper in the hair"
To have grey hair / to be middle-aged
"Ha il sale e il pepe nei capelli ma è ancora in perfetta forma."
"He has grey hair but is still in perfect shape."
Fare la vita da cani
"To live the life of dogs"
To live a miserable life
"Con quel lavoro mal pagato fa la vita da cani."
"With that badly paid job, he is living a miserable life."
Fare la fame
"To make hunger"
To be dirt poor / to struggle financially
"Da giovane artista faceva la fame ma non ha mai smesso di dipingere."
"As a young artist he was dirt poor but never stopped painting."
Morire di fame
"To die of hunger"
To be starving / to be very hungry
"Sono arrivato a casa a mezzanotte e morivo di fame."
"I got home at midnight and I was starving."
Avere fame da lupo
"To have a wolf's hunger"
To be ravenous / wolf-hungry
"Dopo l'allenamento ho sempre fame da lupo."
"After training I am always ravenous."
Avere la luna di miele
"To have the honey moon"
To be in the honeymoon phase
"Sono ancora nella luna di miele del nuovo lavoro — tutto sembra perfetto."
"They are still in the honeymoon phase of the new job — everything seems perfect."
Avere le ossa rotte
"To have broken bones"
To be exhausted / dead tired
"Dopo dodici ore in piedi, ho le ossa rotte."
"After twelve hours on my feet, I am absolutely exhausted."
Dormire come un ghiro
"To sleep like a dormouse"
To sleep like a log
"Dopo quella lunga giornata ho dormito come un ghiro."
"After that long day I slept like a log."
Essere fresco come una rosa
"To be as fresh as a rose"
To look fresh and well-rested
"Dopo dieci ore di volo, è arrivata fresca come una rosa."
"After ten hours of flying, she arrived looking perfectly fresh."
Avere la lingua lunga
"To have a long tongue"
To be a gossip / to have a sharp tongue
"Attenta a cosa dici davanti a lei — ha la lingua lunga."
"Be careful what you say in front of her — she's a gossip."
Tenere la lingua a posto
"To keep one's tongue in place"
To hold one's tongue / to keep quiet
"Tieni la lingua a posto durante la riunione — non è il momento di parlare."
"Hold your tongue during the meeting — it's not the time to speak."
Essere come l'erba del vicino
"To be like the neighbour's grass"
The grass is always greener on the other side
"Sei sempre insoddisfatto — per te l'erba del vicino è sempre più verde."
"You are always dissatisfied — for you the grass is always greener on the other side."
Non è roba da poco
"It is not a small thing/stuff"
It is no small matter / it is significant
"Vincere un premio internazionale non è roba da poco."
"Winning an international award is no small matter."
Avere la febbre da cavallo
"To have a horse's fever"
To have a very high fever
"Ho la febbre da cavallo — non posso venire."
"I have a very high fever — I cannot come."
Avere una fame da lupi
"To have a hunger of wolves"
To be absolutely ravenous / wolf-pack hunger
"Non ho mangiato niente tutto il giorno — ho una fame da lupi."
"I have not eaten anything all day — I am absolutely ravenous."
Fare il dolce far niente
"To do the sweet doing nothing"
To enjoy doing absolutely nothing / to laze about pleasurably
"In vacanza mi dedico al dolce far niente sulla spiaggia."
"On holiday I enjoy doing absolutely nothing on the beach."
Fare la dolce vita
"To live the sweet life"
To live a life of luxury and pleasure
"Da quando è andato in pensione, fa la dolce vita."
"Since he retired, he has been living the sweet life."
B1 — Intermedio
Rendere pan per focaccia
"To give bread for focaccia"
To give tit for tat / to pay back in kind
"Mi ha fatto uno scherzo, ma io gli ho reso pan per focaccia!"
"He played a trick on me, but I paid him back in kind!"
Avere il prosciutto sugli occhi
"To have ham over one's eyes"
To be blind to something obvious / to not see what is right in front of you
"Come non hai visto che ti stava mentendo? Avevi il prosciutto sugli occhi!"
"How did you not see he was lying to you? You were blind to the obvious!"
Essere come il prezzemolo
"To be like parsley"
To be everywhere / to always show up uninvited
"Marco è come il prezzemolo — lo trovi a ogni festa senza essere stato invitato."
"Marco is like parsley — you find him at every party without being invited."
Non è pane per i tuoi denti
"It's not bread for your teeth"
It's not something you can handle / it's out of your league
"Quel lavoro non è pane per i tuoi denti — richiede anni di esperienza."
"That job is not something you can handle — it requires years of experience."
Avere sale in zucca
"To have salt in the pumpkin (head)"
To have common sense / to be smart
"Quella ragazza ha sale in zucca — sa sempre come risolvere i problemi."
"That girl has common sense — she always knows how to solve problems."
Mangiare la foglia
"To eat the leaf"
To catch on / to understand what's really going on
"Quando ha visto le loro facce, ha mangiato la foglia e ha capito che lo stavano ingannando."
"When he saw their faces, he caught on and realized they were deceiving him."
Essere nella zuppa
"To be in the soup"
To be in serious trouble
"Se non finisci il progetto entro stasera, sei nella zuppa."
"If you don't finish the project by tonight, you're in serious trouble."
Mettere troppa carne al fuoco
"To put too much meat on the fire"
To take on too many things at once
"Stai gestendo tre progetti contemporaneamente — stai mettendo troppa carne al fuoco."
"You're managing three projects at once — you're taking on too much at once."
Portare acqua al mare
"To carry water to the sea"
To do something completely pointless / to bring coals to Newcastle
"Spiegargli la grammatica italiana è come portare acqua al mare — è già un professore."
"Explaining Italian grammar to him is pointless — he's already a professor."
Avere il dente avvelenato
"To have a poisoned tooth"
To hold a grudge / to have a bone to pick with someone
"Ce l'ha con te da mesi — ha ancora il dente avvelenato per quella storia."
"He's been against you for months — he's still holding a grudge over that incident."
Avere il latte alle ginocchia
"To have milk at the knees"
To be very young / to be a newbie
"Non dargli responsabilità così grandi — ha ancora il latte alle ginocchia."
"Don't give him such big responsibilities — he's still very young and inexperienced."
Essere pane quotidiano
"To be daily bread"
To be a common occurrence / something that happens all the time
"I ritardi dei treni sono pane quotidiano in questa città."
"Train delays are a common occurrence in this city."
Fare la minestra o saltare dalla finestra
"Make the soup or jump out the window"
Take it or leave it / no other options
"Ti offro questo stipendio e nient'altro — o la minestra o la finestra."
"I'm offering you this salary and nothing else — take it or leave it."
Essere in agrodolce
"To be in sweet and sour"
To have mixed feelings / bittersweet
"La notizia del trasferimento è in agrodolce — bella opportunità ma lontano dalla famiglia."
"The news of the transfer is bittersweet — a great opportunity but far from family."
Avere il boccone amaro
"To have a bitter mouthful"
To have a hard pill to swallow / to face a bitter disappointment
"Perdere la finale è stato un boccone amaro da digerire."
"Losing the final was a hard pill to swallow."
Essere di buona pasta
"To be of good dough"
To be good-natured / easy-going
"Non ti arrabbiare con lui — è di buona pasta e non lo faceva apposta."
"Don't be angry with him — he's good-natured and didn't do it on purpose."
Siamo fatti della stessa pasta
"We are made of the same dough"
We are cut from the same cloth / we are alike
"Siamo fatti della stessa pasta — entrambi testardi e appassionati."
"We're cut from the same cloth — both stubborn and passionate."
Versare olio sul fuoco
"To pour oil on the fire"
To pour fuel on the fire / to make a bad situation worse
"Intervenire adesso sarebbe come versare olio sul fuoco."
"Intervening now would be like pouring fuel on the fire."
Ingoiare il rospo
"To swallow the toad"
To swallow one's pride / to accept something unpleasant
"Non mi piaceva quel ruolo, ma ho ingoiato il rospo e ho accettato."
"I didn't like that role, but I swallowed my pride and accepted it."
Essere una fetta di salame
"To be a slice of salami"
To be a fool / to be naive and stupid
"Ha creduto a tutto quello che gli hanno detto — è proprio una fetta di salame."
"He believed everything they told him — he's a real fool."
Sapere di che pasta è fatto
"To know what pasta one is made of"
To know someone's true character
"Lo conosco da anni — so di che pasta è fatto."
"I've known him for years — I know his true character."
Cuocere nel proprio brodo
"To cook in one's own broth"
To stew in one's own juice / to deal with the consequences of one's actions
"Ha creato tutti quei problemi — lascialo cuocere nel suo brodo."
"He created all those problems — let him stew in his own juice."
Avere l'amaro in bocca
"To have bitterness in the mouth"
To be left with a bitter feeling / to feel disappointed
"Dopo quella conversazione, mi è rimasto l'amaro in bocca."
"After that conversation, I was left with a bitter feeling."
Mangiare la polvere
"To eat dust"
To be left far behind / to eat someone's dust
"I nostri concorrenti hanno mangiato la polvere quest'anno."
"Our competitors ate our dust this year."
Avere pane per i propri denti
"To have bread for one's own teeth"
To have met one's match
"Pensava di vincere facilmente, ma ha trovato pane per i suoi denti."
"He thought he'd win easily, but he met his match."
Avere il pepe al naso
"To have pepper at the nose"
To be short-tempered / quick to anger
"Attento a come parli con lui — ha il pepe al naso."
"Be careful how you talk to him — he's short-tempered."
Non avere sale in testa
"To have no salt in one's head"
To lack common sense / to be foolish
"Come ha potuto fare una cosa del genere? Non ha sale in testa."
"How could he do such a thing? He has no common sense."
Avere stomaco
"To have a stomach"
To have nerve / guts / to be brazen
"Ci vuole stomaco per fare una cosa del genere senza vergognarsi."
"It takes nerve to do something like that without any shame."
Fare di tutta l'erba un fascio
"To make one bundle of all the grass"
To lump everything/everyone together / to generalize
"Non fare di tutta l'erba un fascio — non tutti i politici sono corrotti."
"Do not lump everyone together — not all politicians are corrupt."
Avere le mani in pasta
"To have one's hands in the dough"
To be deeply involved in something / to have a hand in something
"Quel funzionario aveva le mani in pasta nello scandalo."
"That official had a hand in the scandal."
Avere il boccone in gola
"To have the mouthful in the throat"
To have a lump in the throat / to be deeply moved or upset
"Quando ha salutato i suoi genitori, aveva il boccone in gola."
"When she said goodbye to her parents, she had a lump in her throat."
Essere pane al pane, vino al vino
"Bread to bread, wine to wine"
To call a spade a spade / to be completely frank
"Ti parlerò pane al pane e vino al vino: la situazione è grave."
"I'll call a spade a spade: the situation is serious."
Essere tutto fumo e niente arrosto
"To be all smoke and no roast"
All talk and no action / all style and no substance
"Il suo discorso era tutto fumo e niente arrosto — belle parole ma zero fatti."
"His speech was all talk and no action — fine words but zero facts."
Essere una patata bollente
"To be a hot potato"
To be a hot potato / a thorny issue
"La questione dell'immigrazione è una patata bollente per il governo."
"The immigration issue is a hot potato for the government."
Vendere fumo
"To sell smoke"
To sell hot air / to promise things you can't deliver
"Quel venditore vende fumo — promette tutto ma non consegna niente."
"That salesman sells hot air — he promises everything but delivers nothing."
Non essere né carne né pesce
"To be neither meat nor fish"
To be neither one thing nor the other / wishy-washy
"Questo progetto non è né carne né pesce — non si capisce cosa voglia essere."
"This project is neither one thing nor the other — you cannot understand what it wants to be."
Avere fegato
"To have liver"
To have guts / courage
"Ci vuole fegato per affrontare quella situazione da solo."
"It takes guts to face that situation alone."
Mangiare qualcuno con gli occhi
"To eat someone with one's eyes"
To stare at someone with great desire or admiration
"La mangiava con gli occhi dall'altra parte della stanza."
"He was devouring her with his eyes from across the room."
Fare la pizza
"To make a pizza"
To make a mess of something / to ruin something
"Ha fatto la pizza con quel rapporto — è pieno di errori."
"He made a mess of that report — it is full of mistakes."
Mangiare i gomiti
"To eat one's elbows"
To regret deeply / to kick oneself
"Se non accetti quella proposta, ti mangerai i gomiti."
"If you don't accept that proposal, you'll kick yourself."
Essere morbido come il burro
"To be soft as butter"
To be very easy-going / easily persuaded
"Con quella bambina è morbido come il burro — non riesce a dirle di no."
"With that child he is soft as butter — he cannot say no to her."
Essere farina del proprio sacco
"To be flour from one's own sack"
To come from one's own initiative / to be one's own idea
"Quella soluzione è farina del suo sacco — non ha copiato da nessuno."
"That solution is entirely his own idea — he did not copy from anyone."
Non essere farina del proprio sacco
"To not be flour from one's own sack"
To not be one's own original idea / to have copied
"Quella tesi non è farina del suo sacco — ha copiato da altri."
"That thesis is not his own original work — he copied from others."
Fare il minestrone
"To make minestrone"
To mix everything together in a confused way
"Ha fatto il minestrone con tutte le idee — non si capisce niente."
"He mixed everything together in a confused way — you cannot understand anything."
Stare come il pane nel forno
"To be like bread in the oven"
To be in a very cosy, warm and comfortable place
"Con questo freddo, sto benissimo a casa — sto come il pane nel forno."
"In this cold, I am perfectly comfortable at home — cosy as bread in the oven."
Non si può fare una frittata senza rompere le uova
"You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs"
You cannot achieve something without some cost or sacrifice
"Ci saranno dei tagli, ma non si può fare una frittata senza rompere le uova."
"There will be cuts, but you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs."
Restare con un pugno di mosche
"To be left with a fist full of flies"
To be left with nothing / empty-handed
"Dopo ore di trattative, siamo rimasti con un pugno di mosche."
"After hours of negotiations, we were left with nothing."
Mangiare pane e cipolla
"To eat bread and onion"
To live very simply / to make do with very little
"Da studente mangiavo pane e cipolla, ma ero felice."
"As a student I lived on almost nothing, but I was happy."
Avere il vino cattivo
"To have bad wine"
To become aggressive when drunk
"Non dargli da bere — ha il vino cattivo."
"Do not give him anything to drink — he turns aggressive when drunk."
Avere il vino buono
"To have good wine"
To be a happy, cheerful drunk
"Per fortuna ha il vino buono — ride e canta quando beve."
"Luckily he is a happy drunk — he laughs and sings when he drinks."
Non valere un fico secco
"To not be worth a dried fig"
To be worth absolutely nothing
"Quella scusa non vale un fico secco."
"That excuse is worth absolutely nothing."
Trovare il pelo nell'uovo
"To find the hair in the egg"
To nitpick / to find fault with everything
"Trova sempre il pelo nell'uovo — non è mai soddisfatto di niente."
"He always finds something to nitpick about — he is never satisfied with anything."
Avere qualcosa che non va giù
"To have something that will not go down"
To have something that doesn't sit right / that you can't accept
"C'è qualcosa in quella storia che non mi va giù."
"There is something about that story that does not sit right with me."
Fare la bocca a qualcosa
"To make one's mouth used to something"
To acquire a taste for something
"All'inizio non mi piaceva il caffè amaro, ma ci ho fatto la bocca."
"At first I did not like black coffee, but I acquired a taste for it."
Fare acqua in bocca
"To make water in the mouth"
To keep a secret / mum's the word
"Ti dico una cosa, ma acqua in bocca — non dirlo a nessuno!"
"I'll tell you something, but mum's the word — don't tell anyone!"
Buttare acqua sul fuoco
"To throw water on the fire"
To pour cold water on something / to calm things down
"Il moderatore ha cercato di buttare acqua sul fuoco durante il dibattito."
"The moderator tried to calm things down during the debate."
Scivolare come l'olio
"To slide like oil"
To go very smoothly / to slip away easily
"Il negoziato è scivolato come l'olio — nessun problema."
"The negotiation went very smoothly — no problems."
Avere la trippa piena
"To have a full tripe (gut)"
To be completely fed up
"Ho la trippa piena di queste riunioni inutili."
"I am completely fed up with these useless meetings."
Avere la bocca buona
"To have a good mouth"
To be easy to please / to accept things without complaint
"Non è difficile cucinare per lui — ha la bocca buona."
"It is not hard to cook for him — he is easy to please."
Essere in acque agitate
"To be in choppy waters"
To be going through a rough patch / to be in troubled times
"L'azienda è in acque agitate dopo il cambio di gestione."
"The company is going through a rough patch after the management change."
Navigare in acque calme
"To navigate in calm waters"
To be going through a smooth, peaceful period
"Finalmente l'azienda naviga in acque calme."
"Finally the company is going through a smooth period."
Essere un piatto forte
"To be a strong dish / main course"
To be the main attraction / the highlight
"L'intervento del professore è stato il piatto forte del convegno."
"The professor's talk was the highlight of the conference."
Essere il piatto del giorno
"To be the dish of the day"
To be today's hot topic / the flavour of the month
"L'intelligenza artificiale è il piatto del giorno in tutti i convegni."
"Artificial intelligence is today hot topic at every conference."
Avere un conto aperto
"To have an open bill"
To have unfinished business / an old score to settle
"Abbiamo ancora un conto aperto — ci dobbiamo parlare."
"We still have unfinished business — we need to talk."
Prendere con le molle
"To take with tongs"
To handle with kid gloves / to treat very delicately
"Con lui bisogna prendere tutto con le molle — si offende facilmente."
"With him you have to handle everything with kid gloves — he takes offence easily."
Essere come il latte e il miele
"To be like milk and honey"
To be extremely pleasant / perfect and easy
"La vita in campagna sembrava latte e miele."
"Life in the countryside seemed like milk and honey."
Non fare una piega
"To not make a fold (crease)"
To not bat an eyelid / to not react at all
"Gli ho dato la notizia e non ha fatto una piega."
"I gave him the news and he did not bat an eyelid."
Avere grilli per la testa
"To have crickets in the head"
To have fanciful ideas / to have bees in the bonnet
"Ha sempre grilli per la testa — oggi vuole aprire un ristorante, domani un negozio."
"He always has fanciful ideas — today he wants to open a restaurant, tomorrow a shop."
Capitare a fagiolo
"To arrive at the bean"
To come at just the right moment
"Sei capitato a fagiolo — avevo proprio bisogno di aiuto!"
"You came at just the right time — I really needed help!"
Avere qualcosa sullo stomaco
"To have something on one's stomach"
To have something weighing on one's conscience / to harbour a grudge
"Sento che hai qualcosa sullo stomaco — dimmi cosa ti preoccupa."
"I can tell you have something weighing on you — tell me what is bothering you."
Essere pappa molle
"To be soft mush"
To be spineless / a pushover
"Non fare la pappa molle — difendi le tue idee!"
"Do not be a pushover — stand up for your ideas!"
Mangiare a ufo
"To eat at ufo (freeload)"
To eat for free / to freeload
"Viene sempre alle feste a mangiare a ufo senza portare niente."
"He always comes to parties to freeload without bringing anything."
Avere le mani bucate
"To have holes in the hands"
To be a spendthrift / to let money slip through the fingers
"Ha appena ricevuto lo stipendio e già non ha più niente — ha le mani bucate."
"He just got his salary and already has nothing left — money slips through his fingers."
Essere di bocca buona
"To be of good mouth"
To be easy to please / to accept anything
"È di bocca buona — non si lamenta mai di quello che gli si cucina."
"He is easy to please — he never complains about what you cook for him."
Tagliare la torta
"To cut the cake"
To divide up shares / to share profits
"Dopo la vendita dell'azienda, è arrivato il momento di tagliare la torta."
"After selling the company, it was time to divide up the shares."
Avere troppi ferri sul fuoco
"To have too many irons in the fire"
To have too many things going on at once
"Non riesco a concentrarmi — ho troppi ferri sul fuoco."
"I cannot concentrate — I have too many things going on at once."
Mangiare con gli occhi
"To eat with the eyes"
To feast one's eyes on something / to appreciate visually
"Il paesaggio era così bello che si mangiava con gli occhi."
"The scenery was so beautiful you could feast your eyes on it."
Essere come il diavolo e l'acqua santa
"To be like the devil and holy water"
To be completely incompatible / to hate each other
"Quei due colleghi sono come il diavolo e l'acqua santa."
"Those two colleagues are completely incompatible with each other."
Essere una spina nel fianco
"To be a thorn in the side"
To be a constant irritant / a persistent problem
"Quel vicino è una spina nel fianco — si lamenta di tutto."
"That neighbour is a constant irritant — he complains about everything."
Essere sulle spine
"To be on the thorns"
To be on tenterhooks / very anxious
"Ero sulle spine aspettando il risultato dell'esame."
"I was on tenterhooks waiting for the exam result."
Fare il fiore all'occhiello
"To be the flower in the buttonhole"
To be the pride and joy / the flagship
"Quel museo è il fiore all'occhiello della nostra città."
"That museum is the pride and joy of our city."
Essere a pane e acqua
"To be on bread and water"
To be on very strict rations / under punishment
"Con quel budget siamo a pane e acqua — non possiamo fare niente."
"With that budget we are on bread and water — we cannot do anything."
Fare a metà del salame
"To split the salami down the middle"
To split something fifty-fifty
"Facciamo a metà del salame — dividiamo il conto in due parti uguali."
"Let us split it fifty-fifty — divide the bill into two equal parts."
Avere il dente di latte
"To have a milk tooth"
To be very young / immature / a newcomer
"Ha ancora il dente di latte — è troppo giovane per questo incarico."
"He still has his milk teeth — he is too young for this position."
Essere un bel piatto
"To be a nice plate/dish"
To be a tasty prospect / an attractive deal or person
"Quella proposta di lavoro è un bel piatto — ci penserò seriamente."
"That job offer is an attractive prospect — I will think about it seriously."
Essere aceto
"To be vinegar"
To be sharp-tongued / bitter and caustic
"Non puoi ferire sempre gli altri così — sei aceto puro."
"You cannot keep hurting others like that — you are pure vinegar."
Essere a pane e sale
"To be on bread and salt"
To live an extremely frugal life
"Da studente vivevamo a pane e sale, ma ci siamo divertiti lo stesso."
"As students we lived on almost nothing, but we still had fun."
B2 — Intermedio alto
Fare le nozze con i fichi secchi
"To celebrate a wedding with dried figs"
To try to do something important with very few resources
"Non puoi organizzare una conferenza internazionale con quel budget — non si possono fare le nozze con i fichi secchi."
"You can't organize an international conference with that budget — you can't do something big with so little."
Volere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca
"To want the barrel full and the wife drunk"
To want to have it both ways / to want the impossible
"Vuole lavorare poco e guadagnare tanto — vuole la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca."
"He wants to work little and earn a lot — he wants to have it both ways."
Non si vive di solo pane
"One does not live by bread alone"
Material things are not enough for a fulfilling life
"Certo che il denaro è importante, ma non si vive di solo pane — hai bisogno anche di affetti."
"Of course money is important, but you don't live by bread alone — you need love too."
Essere di pasta frolla
"To be made of shortcrust pastry"
To be soft / weak-willed / spineless
"Non puoi affidarti a lui — è di pasta frolla, cede sempre alla prima difficoltà."
"You can't rely on him — he's spineless, he always gives in at the first difficulty."
Tirare l'acqua al proprio mulino
"To draw water to one's own mill"
To act in one's own interest / to turn everything to one's advantage
"Tira sempre l'acqua al suo mulino — in ogni discussione cerca di ricavarne qualcosa."
"He always acts in his own interest — in every discussion he tries to get something out of it."
Fare melina
"To play little apple"
To stall / to waste time / to play for time
"La squadra stava facendo melina per conservare il vantaggio."
"The team was playing for time to protect their lead."
Essere il boccone del prete
"To be the priest's mouthful"
To be the best/tastiest part / the choicest piece
"La coscia del pollo arrosto è il boccone del prete — tutti la vogliono."
"The roast chicken thigh is the choicest piece — everyone wants it."
Avere il palato fino
"To have a refined palate"
To have refined taste / to be discerning
"Ha il palato fino — riesce a distinguere ogni ingrediente nel piatto."
"She has a refined palate — she can distinguish every ingredient in the dish."
Non mangiare pane a tradimento
"To not eat bread by betrayal"
To earn one's keep / to not sponge off others
"In questa azienda non si mangia pane a tradimento — ognuno lavora sodo."
"In this company no one sponges off others — everyone works hard."
Fare le castagne in brace
"To make chestnuts in embers"
To use someone to do the dirty work while you benefit
"Ti ha aiutato, ma stava solo facendo le castagne in brace — aveva i suoi interessi."
"He helped you, but he was just using you for his own benefit."
Cascare come una pera matura
"To fall like a ripe pear"
To fall for something easily / to be easily deceived
"Gli hanno raccontato una storia falsa e lui è cascato come una pera matura."
"They told him a false story and he fell for it completely."
Avere il bastone e la carota
"To have the stick and the carrot"
To use carrot and stick / to combine reward and punishment
"Il suo stile di gestione usa il bastone e la carota per motivare il team."
"His management style uses carrot and stick to motivate the team."
Andare in brodo di giuggiole
"To go into jujube broth"
To be over the moon / to be deliriously happy
"Quando ha vinto il premio, è andata in brodo di giuggiole."
"When she won the prize, she was over the moon."
Fare il brodo lungo
"To make the broth long (watery)"
To drag something out / to pad out a speech or text
"Il professore fa sempre il brodo lungo — le sue lezioni durano il doppio del necessario."
"The professor always drags things out — his lessons last twice as long as necessary."
Bere il calice amaro
"To drink the bitter chalice"
To endure a painful or humiliating experience to the end
"Ha dovuto bere il calice amaro fino in fondo durante quel processo."
"He had to endure the painful experience to the very end during that trial."
Fare a fette una persona
"To slice a person"
To tear someone apart verbally / to criticize severely
"Il critico ha fatto a fette il nuovo film con una recensione devastante."
"The critic tore apart the new film with a devastating review."
Fare il succo di limone
"To make lemon juice"
To squeeze every last drop / to exploit someone completely
"Quel datore di lavoro fa il succo di limone ai suoi dipendenti."
"That employer squeezes every last drop out of his employees."
Avere la testa dura come un tarallo
"To have a head as hard as a tarallo"
To be extremely stubborn
"Inutile discutere con lui — ha la testa dura come un tarallo."
"It's pointless arguing with him — he's extremely stubborn."
Essere l'uovo di Colombo
"To be Columbus's egg"
To be a brilliantly simple solution / to think outside the box
"La soluzione era l'uovo di Colombo — semplice e geniale."
"The solution was brilliantly simple — obvious once you see it."
Sputare nel piatto dove si mangia
"To spit in the plate you eat from"
To bite the hand that feeds you
"Criticare apertamente la propria azienda è sputare nel piatto dove si mangia."
"Openly criticizing your own company is biting the hand that feeds you."
Essere come il formaggio nella trappola
"To be like cheese in the trap"
To be bait / to be used to lure someone
"Quella promozione era come il formaggio nella trappola — c'era sotto qualcosa."
"That promotion was like cheese in a trap — there was something suspicious about it."
Fare i conti senza l'oste
"To count without the innkeeper"
To make plans without considering key factors / to count chickens before they hatch
"Aveva già speso i soldi prima di ottenerli — ha fatto i conti senza l'oste."
"He had already spent the money before getting it — he counted his chickens before they hatched."
Avere una pera cotta
"To have a cooked pear"
To be extremely drunk
"Dopo tre bicchieri aveva già una pera cotta."
"After three glasses he was already extremely drunk."
Avere le pere cotte
"To have cooked pears"
To be in love / to be lovesick
"Si vede che ha le pere cotte per lei — non fa altro che parlarne."
"You can tell he is head over heels for her — he will not stop talking about her."
Avere il sangue come acqua
"To have blood like water"
To be cold and emotionless / to have ice in the veins
"Ha annunciato i licenziamenti senza battere ciglio — ha il sangue come acqua."
"He announced the layoffs without blinking — he has ice in his veins."
Fare poca acqua
"To make little water"
To not carry much weight / to be unconvincing
"Il suo alibi fa poca acqua — non convince nessuno."
"His alibi does not hold water — it convinces nobody."
Essere come l'olio sull'acqua
"To be like oil on water"
To never mix / to always remain separate
"I due partiti sono come l'olio sull'acqua — non troveranno mai un accordo."
"The two parties are like oil on water — they will never find an agreement."
Mangiare la minestra fredda
"To eat cold soup"
To accept unpleasant conditions without complaint
"Non ti piacciono le condizioni? Dovrai mangiare la minestra fredda."
"You do not like the conditions? You will have to accept it whether you like it or not."
Essere una zuppa inglese
"To be an English soup (trifle)"
To be a messy mixture / a hodgepodge
"Quel film è una zuppa inglese di generi — non si capisce cosa vuol essere."
"That film is a hodgepodge of genres — you cannot understand what it wants to be."
Non fare un baffo
"To not make a moustache (crumb on the lip)"
To not make a dent / to have no effect on someone
"Gli ho detto quello che pensavo ma non gli ha fatto un baffo."
"I told him what I thought but it had no effect on him whatsoever."
Avere il sapore amaro della sconfitta
"To have the bitter taste of defeat"
To experience the bitterness of defeat
"I giocatori conoscono bene il sapore amaro della sconfitta."
"The players know well the bitter taste of defeat."
Campa cavallo che l'erba cresce
"Live on, horse, for the grass is growing"
Don't hold your breath / it'll be a long wait
"Aspetti che ti rimborsino? Campa cavallo che l'erba cresce."
"You are waiting for them to reimburse you? Do not hold your breath."
Essere come un fico secco
"To be like a dried fig"
To be shrivelled and thin / drained of vitality
"Dopo quella dieta estrema era diventato come un fico secco."
"After that extreme diet he had become very thin and dried up."
Essere come l'aglio: fa bene ma puzza
"To be like garlic: it's good for you but it smells"
To be effective but unpleasant to deal with
"Il suo metodo è come l'aglio: efficace ma difficile da sopportare."
"His method is effective but unpleasant to deal with."
Fare la pappa al gatto
"To make the cat's mush"
To do someone else's work for them / to make things too easy for someone
"Non farti sempre fare la pappa al gatto — impara a risolvere i problemi da solo."
"Do not always have things done for you — learn to solve problems on your own."
Fare il regalo della zucca
"To give the pumpkin as a gift"
To give someone the cold shoulder / to dump someone
"Dopo tre anni di fidanzamento, lei gli ha fatto il regalo della zucca."
"After three years of dating, she gave him the cold shoulder and ended it."
Essere come il pane e il vino sulla tavola
"To be like bread and wine on the table"
To be an essential, daily presence
"La musica per lui è come il pane e il vino sulla tavola — indispensabile."
"Music for him is like bread and wine on the table — indispensable."
Avere il sapore di antico
"To have the taste of the ancient"
To have a vintage feel / to feel old-fashioned
"Quella canzone ha il sapore di antico — ti porta indietro nel tempo."
"That song has a vintage feel — it takes you back in time."
Essere un piatto rotto
"To be a broken plate"
To be a has-been / someone whose best days are behind them
"Nel mondo della moda, a 35 anni ti considerano già un piatto rotto."
"In the fashion world, at 35 they already consider you a has-been."
Non fare pizza e fichi
"To not be pizza and figs"
To be no small matter / to be serious business
"Gestire un'azienda da soli non è pizza e fichi."
"Running a company alone is no small matter."
Avere la faccia come il pane
"To have a face like bread"
To have an honest, open face
"Ha la faccia come il pane — non sembra capace di mentire."
"She has an honest, open face — she does not seem capable of lying."
Essere come il basilico: cresce solo al sole
"To be like basil: it only grows in the sun"
To thrive only in favourable conditions / to be a fair-weather person
"È come il basilico — funziona solo quando tutto va bene."
"He is a fair-weather person — he only performs when everything is going well."
Fare il filetto
"To do the fillet"
To work precisely and skillfully / to do the finest work
"Su questo progetto devi fare il filetto — non ci sono margini di errore."
"On this project you need to do your finest work — there is no room for error."
Mangiare a quattro palmenti
"To eat with four millstones"
To eat voraciously / to wolf down food
"Aveva una fame terribile e mangiava a quattro palmenti."
"He was terribly hungry and was wolfing down his food."
Avere il cervello in ammollo
"To have one's brain soaking"
To have one's brain switched off / to be mentally checked out
"Dopo quella riunione infinita ho il cervello in ammollo."
"After that endless meeting my brain is completely switched off."
Vivere di rendita
"To live on income (like eating without working)"
To live off past achievements / to rest on one's laurels
"Non puoi continuare a vivere di rendita — devi innovare."
"You cannot keep resting on your laurels — you need to innovate."
Contare come il due di briscola
"To count as the two of briscola (cards)"
To count for nothing / to have no importance
"La sua opinione in questa azienda conta come il due di briscola."
"His opinion in this company counts for absolutely nothing."
Mangiare la foglia di fico
"To eat the fig leaf"
To see through a cover / to expose what is hidden
"I giornalisti hanno mangiato la foglia di fico della propaganda ufficiale."
"The journalists saw through the fig leaf of the official propaganda."
Avere il sangue caldo come il vino
"To have blood as warm as wine"
To be hot-blooded / passionate and temperamental
"È meridionale — ha il sangue caldo come il vino."
"He is southern Italian — he is hot-blooded and passionate."
Fare il bello e il cattivo tempo
"To make good and bad weather"
To call the shots / to do as one pleases
"In quella riunione, lui faceva il bello e il cattivo tempo."
"In that meeting, he was calling all the shots."
Essere come il prezzemolo in brodo
"To be like parsley in broth"
To be indispensable yet barely noticed / always present
"Lei è come il prezzemolo in brodo — è ovunque, ma nessuno la nota."
"She is like parsley in broth — everywhere, but nobody notices her."
Mettere la ciliegina amara
"To put the bitter cherry"
To add insult to injury / to make a bad situation worse with one final blow
"L'hanno licenziato e, come ciliegina amara, hanno anche tolto il bonus."
"They fired him and, to add insult to injury, also took away the bonus."
Essere del grano duro
"To be of hard wheat"
To be tough / to have a strong character
"Non si spaventa di niente — è del grano duro."
"Nothing frightens him — he is a tough character."
Avere il fiuto del tartufo
"To have the nose of a truffle (hunter)"
To have a very sharp nose for opportunities / to be very perceptive
"Quel giornalista ha il fiuto del tartufo — trova sempre le notizie prima degli altri."
"That journalist has a very sharp nose for news — he always finds stories before everyone else."
Non sapere di cosa sa il pane
"To not know what bread tastes like"
To have never experienced hardship
"Non sa di cosa sa il pane — è cresciuto nell'abbondanza."
"He has never experienced hardship — he grew up in abundance."
Buttare via il pane
"To throw away the bread"
To waste a talent or opportunity
"Con il suo talento fare quel lavoro è buttare via il pane."
"With his talent, doing that job is a waste."
Avere il pane sotto il braccio
"To have bread under the arm"
To have everything one needs / to be born lucky
"È nata con il pane sotto il braccio — non ha mai dovuto preoccuparsi di niente."
"She was born lucky — she has never had to worry about anything."
Avere il finocchio in bocca
"To have fennel in the mouth"
To be talking nonsense / to distract with misleading words
"Quel politico ha sempre il finocchio in bocca — cambia discorso ogni volta."
"That politician always talks nonsense — he changes the subject every time."
Stare come il burro al sole
"To be like butter in the sun"
To melt away / to give in immediately
"Di fronte a quella proposta è stato come il burro al sole — non ha resistito."
"Faced with that proposal he melted immediately — he could not resist."
Avere il peperoncino in corpo
"To have chilli pepper in the body"
To be fiery / full of passion and energy
"Quella cantante ha il peperoncino in corpo — ogni concerto è un'esplosione."
"That singer is full of fire — every concert is an explosion of energy."
Essere come il lievito nella pasta
"To be like yeast in the dough"
To be a catalyst / to make things grow and rise
"Quel mentore è stato come il lievito nella pasta per la sua carriera."
"That mentor was like yeast in the dough for his career — he made everything rise."
Avere il grano fino
"To have fine grain"
To be of fine character / to have a refined nature
"Si vede che è una persona di grano fino — elegante in tutto ciò che fa."
"You can tell he is a person of fine character — elegant in everything he does."