The origin of the phrase tanto di cappello, which equates to the English idiomatic expression hats off, can be traced back to the old custom of removing one’s hat as a sign of respect or courtesy. tanto di cappello hats off Cappello means hat, and tanto, in this case, is being used emphatically to mean …
In Italian, there’s an idiomatic way to express someone’s unexpected death: rimanere secco, which literally translates to “to be left dry.” rimanere secco to die unexpectedly The verb rimanere can be substituted with restare (to stay) without altering the meaning. Additionally, you can use the pronominal verbs rimanerci and restarci, incorporating the particle ci. The …
Have you ever been so thrilled about something that it was hard to keep your excitement in check? If so, today’s idiom is just right for you! non stare più nella pelle to be excited / can’t wait The literal translation of non stare più nella pelle from Italian is “not to stay in one’s …
Today, we’ll be delving into an idiom that I’ve been meaning to write about for quite some time, but only just remembered to jot down on my “to-do” list yesterday. This idiom is the delightful essere agli sgoccioli! Essere agli sgoccioli To be almost over / at the end Imagine when you take a sip …
The other day at the park, a man allowed his leash-less dog to bound up to my three-year-old, and had the nerve to tell me to keep an eye on my child (who was holding his grandmother’s hand at the time). Did I lose my cool? No, but I was *this* close! When you reach …
Have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to improvise a speech or speak off-the-cuff? If that sounds familiar, you might want to explore the expression a braccio, which directly translates to “by (the manner of) the arm” but is equivalent to the English expressions “off-the-cuff,” “ad-lib” and “improvised.” The term originates …