Language/Italian/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions

Italian Vocabulary - Idiomatic expressions

Hi Italian learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will learn some important Italian idiomatic expressions that will help you sound more fluent and natural when speaking Italian. Using idioms in Italian is a great way to impress native speakers and show that you have a deep understanding of the language and its culture. So, let's get started!

What are idiomatic expressions

Idiomatic expressions are phrases or sentences that have a meaning that cannot be inferred from the literal definition of the words used in the expression. Some idiomatic expressions are used in everyday conversations and others are more specific to certain situations. Understanding and using idiomatic expressions is an important part of mastering any language, including Italian.

Top Italian idiomatic expressions

Let's take a look at some of the most common Italian idiomatic expressions:

Avere le mani in pasta

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Avere le mani in pasta	[a'veː.re le 'maː.ni in 'pas.ta]	To have one's hands in the dough / to be involved in a project or task.

• Person 1: Come ti sei trovato al lavoro nuovo? (How did you find your new job?)
• Person 2: Non c'è male, ma devo ancora capire come funziona tutto. Ho le mani in pasta. (Not bad, but I still need to figure out how everything works. I have my hands in the dough.)

Fare pollice verde

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Fare pollice verde	[faː.re 'pɔl.li.ʃe 'vɛr.de]	To have a green thumb / to be good with plants.

• Person 1: Questo giardino è bellissimo! Ti piace stare all'aria aperta? (This garden is beautiful! Do you like being outdoors?)
• Person 2: Sì, mi piace molto. Ho sempre avuto pollice verde. (Yes, I do. I've always had a green thumb.)

Prendere con le pinze

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Prendere con le pinze	[pre'n.de.re kon le 'pin.tse]	To take with a pinch of salt / to be cautious about something you are hearing.

• Person 1: Ho sentito che questo ristorante è il migliore in città. (I heard that this restaurant is the best in town.)
• Person 2: Prenderei queste informazioni con le pinze. Meglio chiedere direttamente alle persone che hanno già mangiato qui. (I would take this information with a pinch of salt. It's better to ask people who have already eaten here.)

Essere l'anima della festa

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Essere l'anima della festa	[e'sse.re 'a.ni.ma del.la 'fes.ta]	To be the life of the party / to be the most fun and lively person at a social gathering.

• Person 1: Chi ha cantato quella canzone? (Who sang that song?)
• Person 2: È stato Luca, sempre l'anima della festa! (It was Luca, always the life of the party!)

In bocca al lupo

Italian	Pronunciation	English
In bocca al lupo	[in 'bok.k.a al 'lu.po]	Good luck!

• Person 1: Domani ho un esame importante. (I have an important exam tomorrow.)
• Person 2: In bocca al lupo! Sono sicuro che andrà tutto bene. (Good luck! I'm sure everything will be fine.)

Practice makes perfect

Now that you know some common Italian idiomatic expressions, it's time to practice using them! Try incorporating them into your conversations with native speakers you meet on Polyglot Club. It's a great way to improve your Italian skills and learn more about Italian culture.

Remember to also check out our Italian Vocabulary section for more words and phrases to add to your repertoire.

Conclusion

Using idiomatic expressions is a great way to show that you have a deep understanding of the Italian language and its culture. Don’t be afraid to practice and make mistakes – that’s the best way to learn! Keep practicing and before you know it, you'll be using these idioms like a native speaker.

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

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