Numbers pop up in Italian expressions all the time, and today, we’re focusing on one in particular: quattro (four)! You’d be surprised how often we use this number in everyday conversations—sometimes to describe something small and insignificant, other times to paint a vivid picture of a situation.
So, here are 15 super common Italian idioms with “quattro” that you’ll hear all the time. Ready to take notes? Spoiler: #11 is absolutely hilarious!
1. Dirne quattro a qualcuno
Literally: To say four things to someone
Meaning: To give someone a piece of your mind
Dirne quattro a qualcuno is all about giving someone a roasting. So, you’re not just having a polite chat, you’re calling them out or telling them exactly what you think without sugarcoating a single word.
Quando ho scoperto che Daniele aveva mentito, gliene ho dette quattro!
When I found out Daniele lied to me, I gave him a piece of my mind!
2. Essere in quattro gatti
Literally: To be four cats
Meaning: To be just a handful of people
Essere quattro gatti is a super common way to say that there are barely any people around, often with a touch of sarcasm. This phrase likely comes from the idea that wild cats tend to gather in large groups for safety. So, if only quattro gatti (four cats) show up, the group feels disappointingly small.
Eravamo in quattro gatti alla presentazione.
There were just a handful of us at the presentation.
3. Fare il diavolo a quattro
Literally: To make the devil in four
Meaning: To raise hell, to kick up a storm
This colorful expression means causing a scene, making a lot of noise, or fighting to get something. It dates back to medieval theatre, where the devil was a must-have character in performances. But he had to appear multiple times in different disguises, and back then, quick costume changes weren’t an option. So instead of one actor, they used four different ones, each playing a version of the devil. The result? Total madness backstage! And that’s how fare il diavolo a quattro became synonymous with “raising hell.”
Luigi ha fatto il diavolo a quattro per avere il rimborso da parte dell’assicurazione.
Luigi raised hell to get the refund from the insurance company.
4. Fare quattro chiacchiere
Literally: To make four chats
Meaning: To have a chat
Fare quattro chiacchiere is the perfect expression for a casual conversation – typically nothing deep, just chatting to pass the time. The number four reinforces the idea of a relaxed, informal chat, where words flow freely without any pressure or structure. You can also say fare due chiacchiere (lit. to have two chats), which means the exact same thing.
Dopo cena siamo rimasti al bar a fare quattro chiacchiere.
After dinner, we stayed at the bar for a little chat.
5. Fare quattro passi
Literally: To make four steps
Meaning: To go for a walk
Fare quattro passi is a casual way to say you’re going for a short walk—nothing too intense, just a little stroll. Maybe you’re stepping out to chat, get some fresh air, or, like many Italians do, help digestion after a big meal! Just like with fare quattro chiacchiere, the number “four” here reinforces the idea of something light and informal, and you can replace it with due (two).
Dopo pranzo, abbiamo fatto quattro passi in riva al mare.
After lunch, we took a short walk by the sea.
6. Fare quattro salti
Literally: To make four jumps
Meaning: To go dancing
Fare quattro salti is a playful way to say “go out dancing.” Fun fact: Quattro salti also appears in the famous Italian frozen food brand 4 Salti in Padella (literally, “four jumps in a pan”). The idea behind it is that, only a few quick moves (or “jumps”) in the pan, and dinner is ready – just like fare quattro salti on the dance floor is all about effortless fun!
Ragazze, andiamo a fare quattro salti stasera?
Ladies, shall we go dancing tonight?
7. Fare un quarantotto
Literally: To make a forty-eight
Meaning: To create total chaos
Saying fare un quarantotto means causing such a mess or uproar that everything is thrown into turmoil, be it a heated argument, a wild protest, or just absolute mayhem. This expression traces back to the year 1848, a time of major revolutionary movements and uprisings across Italy and the rest of Europe in the fight for independence. With so much upheaval, quarantotto (forty-eight) became synonymous with disorder, rebellion, and radical change. This phrase is still used today, but younger generations might not even realise it comes from history!
Il volo è stato cancellato e i passeggeri hanno fatto un quarantotto al gate.
The flight got canceled and passengers caused a huge commotion at the gate!
8. Farsi in quattro (per qualcuno/qualcosa)
Literally: To split oneself into four (for someone/something)
Meaning: To go above and beyond, to bend over backwards
Farsi in quattro means giving it your all, whether it’s helping someone, fixing a situation, or working extra hard to get something done. It’s commonly used to describe selfless acts, like a parent working tirelessly for their children or a colleague going the extra mile to finish a project. But sometimes, it carries a touch of frustration, especially when all that effort goes unnoticed or unappreciated.
Mi faccio sempre in quattro per loro e in cambio non ricevo nemmeno un grazie!
I always bend over backward for them, and I don’t even get a thank you in return!
9. Gridare ai quattro venti
Literally: To shout to the four winds
Meaning: To broadcast something to the world
We use this expression with quattro for describing people who just can’t keep a secret. If someone grida ai quattro venti, it means they’re loudly sharing information that should have been kept private. The phrase comes from the idea of the four major winds (Maestrale, Libeccio, Scirocco, and Grecale), which blow in different directions, carrying voices far and wide. You might also hear sventolare ai quattro venti or sbandierare ai quattro venti, both meaning the same thing.
Vi avevo detto di non dirlo a nessuno, ma lo avete gridato ai quattro venti!
I told you not to tell anyone, but you went and spread it everywhere!
10. In quattro e quattr’otto
Literally: In four and four eight
Meaning: To do something super quickly
In quattro e quattr’otto is a go-to phrase when you want to say that something was done in no time. It comes from basic math: quattro più quattro fa otto (four plus four equals eight). Since this is a quick and simple calculation, the expression became a way to describe anything that happens fast and effortlessly.
Le ho chiesto aiuto e in quattro e quattr’otto ha risolto la situazione.
I asked her for help, and in no time, she sorted everything out for me.
11. Mangiare a quattro palmenti
Literally: To eat with four millstones
Meaning: To devour food, to eat greedily
Mangiare a quattro palmenti is used when someone is eating fast, hungrily, and in large quantities! The word palmento refers to the grinding stones of a mill, which were once used to grind grains into flour. Most mills only had two grinding stones, so having quattro palmenti (four) would mean grinding at maximum power – or in this case, eating at full speed! Interestingly, this phrase can also be used figuratively to describe people who make money dishonestly, greedily taking advantage of every opportunity.
Dopo la camminata in montagna, abbiamo mangiato a quattro palmenti!
After our mountain hike, we devoured our food!
12. Parlare a quattrocchi
Literally: To speak with four eyes
Meaning: To talk privately
Parlare a quattrocchi means having a direct, personal exchange – just the two of you. The origin is pretty straightforward: when two people sit down to talk alone, there are exactly four eyes in the room!
È una questione delicata, preferirei parlarne a quattrocchi.
It’s a delicate matter, I’d rather discuss it in private.
13. Quattrocchi
Literally: Four eyes
Meaning: A nickname for someone wearing glasses
Quattrocchi is a teasing nickname for someone who wears glasses. Whether it’s meant in a playful, affectionate way or a bit mean-spirited depends entirely on the tone and context, so use it wisely! Fun fact: If you grew up watching The Smurfs, you might remember Brainy, the know-it-all of the group. Well, in Italian, he’s called Quattrocchi!
Ehi, quattrocchi, mi aiuti a leggere questa scritta minuscola?
Hey, four eyes, can you help me read this tiny text?
14. Roba da quattro soldi
Literally: Stuff of four coins
Meaning: Something cheap or of little value
We use roba da quattro soldi to describe something that is inexpensive, poorly made, or just not worth much. For example, if someone hypes up a “luxury” item that turns out to be fake, you might say it’s roba da quattro soldi.
Pensava fosse un gioiello di valore, invece era solo roba da quattro soldi!
She thought it was a valuable piece of jewellery, but it was just cheap junk!
15. Spaccare il capelli in quattro
Literally: To split a hair into four
Meaning: To split hairs, to be overly pedantic
Ever tried taking a single split end from your hair and dividing it into four equal parts? Sounds painfully tedious! That’s exactly the idea behind this expression, which refers to analyzing something with extreme, almost obsessive precision, often focusing on tiny details that don’t really matter.
Non voglio spaccare il capello in quattro, ma quel dettaglio fa davvero la differenza.
I don’t want to be overly picky, but that detail really makes a difference.
Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.
