I don’t know about you, but mi da veramente sui nervi (it really gets on my nerves) when people try to push their luck with me. There is something especially irritating about someone who decides to test my patience, even though I’ve already said no, or made it abundantly clear that they’re taking things too …
Today’s Italian expression cannot really be classified as an idiom, but it is an interesting one to explore nonetheless because a) it has a dual meaning, and b) it is an expression that often bewilders learners when they first encounter it. fare il bagno to go for a swim / dip Before we proceed any …
Have you ever done something to benefit yourself, knowing full well that your actions could put someone else at a disadvantage? Or perhaps you’ve been on the receiving end of somebody’s selfish actions? Either way, there is a very appropriate expression in Italian to describe this way of behaving. tirare acqua al proprio mulino to …
Have you ever done someone a small favour, even just a tiny one, only to find yourself wondering a few days later how you somehow ended up doing tutto (everything) for them? Maybe you agree to cover one shift, and suddenly you’re the person everyone asks whenever they need time off. Or you lend someone …
My son started piano lessons a few months ago, and while I usually have to coax him into practising with rewards such as TV time or ice cream, he is definitely starting to show some significant progress. In fact, I could even say ci sta prendendo la mano! prenderci la mano to get the hang …
Imagine biting into a scrumptious-looking ciambella (doughnut), only to discover that something about it isn’t quite right. Maybe it’s uneven, maybe it’s collapsed, or maybe, just maybe, it’s missing that all-important buco (hole) in the middle! (Can a doughnut really be called a doughnut if it’s missing the hole?!) This situation perfectly captures both the …