Why describe human behaviour in the same boring way when we can toss in some hedgehogs, geese, or ants? If you’ve ever wanted to sound more Italian, here are 25 hilarious animal idioms that prove the animal kingdom can truly be a mirror for our quirks (#19 will have you laughing out loud!).
1. Buttarsi a pesce
Literally: To throw oneself like a fish
Meaning: To dive headfirst into something
Ever tossed some food into a fishbowl and watched those little red fish lose their minds? That’s the energy we’re channeling with this idiom, which is for people who dive into things with all the excitement of a kid—no pause for a deep breath, just pure, unfiltered enthusiasm. It’s also perfect for food, like when someone’s so hungry, they’re practically gobbling down their meal.
Non appena hanno aperto il ristorante, Paolo si è buttato a pesce sul buffet.
As soon as they opened the restaurant, Paolo dove right into the buffet.
2. Chiudersi a riccio
Literally: To close oneself like a hedgehog
Meaning: To completely shut down
When things get uncomfortable, hedgehogs curl up into a spiky little ball and refuse to engage. We’re not much different. When we’re not feeling social or are dealing with some problems, we often shut everyone out, ignoring texts, ghosting parties, or pretending we’re too busy just to avoid talking. That’s what we mean when we say chiudersi a riccio.
Quando le ho chiesto di Elena, si è chiusa a riccio e ha cambiato subito argomento.
When I asked her about Elena, she shut down and changed the subject immediately.
3. Essere una vecchia volpe
Literally: To be an old fox
Meaning: To be experienced
Thanks to Aesop and his fables, where the fox is generally depicted as the cunning character, we use this idiom for people who are street-smart, seasoned, and impossible to fool. What they do with all that experience? Well, it could go two ways: either they use it to navigate life like a pro, or to outsmart others and get what they want.
È impossibile fregare quella vecchia volpe di tuo zio!
That old fox of an uncle of yours can’t be fooled!
4. Essere un volpone
Literally: To be a big fox
Meaning: To be cunning
If a vecchia volpe is the seasoned fox who’s seen it all, un volpone is its crafty cousin who knows how to trick people.
Quel volpone di Andrea si è di nuovo assicurato l’elezione in consiglio comunale.
That crafty Andrea managed to secure his election to the city council again.
5. Fare l’uccello del malaugurio
Literally: To do the bird of ill omen
Meaning: To be a doomsayer
You know that person who always expects the worst and talks about it so much that it’s like they’re summoning disaster? That’s an uccello del malaugurio, basically a prophet of doom in feathered form! This expression comes from ancient superstitions about certain night birds whose eerie hoots were considered a signal that something terrible was coming. And since the owl is the undisputed king of night birds, we also use the verb gufare (from gufo—owl), which means the same thing: talking so much about something negative that you might just make it happen.
Tuo fratello ha detto che ci sarà pioggia quando andremo al mare la settimana prossima… che uccello del malaugurio!
Your brother said it’s going to rain when we go to the beach next week… what a doomsayer!
6. Fare la civetta
Literally: To act like the owl
Meaning: To flirt
If you thought owls were just mysterious creatures of the night, think again! In Italian, fare la civetta actually means to flirt. Specifically, it’s used for that woman who flirts in a way that makes sure all eyes are on her. In the past, hunters used owls as bait to attract other birds into their traps, letting the owl’s presence do all the work—much like a flirty woman who knows how to turn heads in a room.
Hai visto Sara? Ha fatto la civetta tutta la sera!
Did you see Sara? She flirted all evening!
7. Far ridere i polli
Literally: To make chickens laugh
Meaning: To be so ridiculous it’s laughable
We use this animal idiom when someone says something so ridiculously stupid that even the chickens (who, by the way, don’t even laugh) would start cackling.
Si perdono venti chili in una settimana? Ma dai, fanno ridere i polli… e magari qualcuno ci crede anche!
Losing twenty kilos in a week? Come on, that’s laughable… and some people might actually believe it!
8. Fare la lucciola
Literally: To make the firefly
Meaning: To work as a prostitute
Fare la lucciola might sound all sweet and poetic, but it’s a not-so-subtle way of referring to prostitution. The term lucciola (firefly), which is often used in journalism, became slang for prostitutes because, like fireflies shining in the night, they shine under streetlights. So, if you ever hear this phrase in conversation, it’s probably not about nature, but rather a certain nighttime profession.
La polizia sta cercando di contrastare la presenza delle lucciole nel quartiere.
The police are trying to reduce the presence of prostitutes in the neighborhood.
9. Essere sano come un pesce
Literally: To be as healthy as a fish
Meaning: To be super healthy, fit as a fiddle
This is the Italian way of saying someone is in top health. Back in ancient times, people believed that since fish live in water (the ultimate symbol of purity and health), they were immune to all disease. That may not be exactly how biology works, but the idiom stuck around, and we’re still using it.
Mia nonna è sana come un pesce, non ha preso neanche un raffreddore quest’inverno!
My grandmother is as fit as a fiddle, she didn’t catch a single cold this winter!
10. Essere un maiale / Fare il maiale
Literally: To be a pig / To make a pig
Meaning: To be a glutton or a perv (depends on the context!)
Pigs aren’t exactly known for their refined table manners. So, when we use these expressions, we’re describing a person who’s eating like they haven’t touched food in days.
Hai divorato tre pizze da solo, sei un maiale!
You’ve devoured three pizzas by yourself, you’re a pig!
But these expressions can also refer to someone who acts like a total creep, making uncomfortable comments or hitting on someone inappropriately. And if you want to really emphasize how pig-like someone is, ditch maiale and go for the stronger porco.
Quel tipo ha cercato di toccarmi il sedere, è un porco!
That guy tried to grab my butt, what a pig!
11. Fare il grillo parlante
Literally: To act like the talking cricket
Meaning: To be a know-it-all
A grillo parlante is the classic “I told you so” type, the person who loves dishing out wisdom we never asked for. This expression comes from Pinocchio, where Jiminy Cricket (or il Grillo Parlante in Italian) was the voice of reason, always telling Pinocchio what to do. Naturally, the wooden puppet ignores him completely—which is what most of us do when faced with unsolicited life coaching.
Smettila di fare il grillo parlante, ho capito che è rischioso, ma ci voglio provare lo stesso!
Stop being such a know-it-all! I get that it’s risky, but I want to try anyway!
12. Avere i grilli per la testa
Literally: To have crickets in the head
Meaning: To have silly ideas
Planning to move to a Tuscan vineyard despite the fact that every plant in your care has ended up in the bin? That’s a grilli per la testa moment! This Italian animal idiom means your head is full of wild, questionable ideas. It’s like having a bunch of crickets bouncing around in your brain, and making it impossible to focus on anything remotely sensible.
Nostro figlio non vuole più studiare, ha troppi grilli per la testa.
Our son doesn’t want to study anymore, he’s got way too many silly ideas buzzing around in his head.
13. Andare in oca
Literally: To go into goose mode
Meaning: To get confused or totally lost
Geese aren’t exactly known for being the sharpest creatures around (though, to be fair, they’re smarter than they look). They waddle here and there, honking randomly, and seeming vaguely lost. And that is andare in oca in a nutshell: when your brain goes completely blank, leaving you flustered, just like a goose mid-waddle!
Quando mi ha chiesto il numero davanti a tutti, sono andata in oca e gli ho dato quello di mia madre!
When he asked for my number in front of everyone, I panicked and gave him my mom’s!
14. Essere un’oca / Fare l’oca
Literally: To be a goose / To act like a goose
Meaning: To be a silly woman
We say essere un’oca or fare l’oca to describe a woman who is shallow and talks a lot but says very little, kind of like a goose honking away for no reason-not the most flattering idiom, but it gets the point across. Unlike the English term “bimbo,” an oca doesn’t necessarily have to be attractive or young; she’s simply got a talent for talking nonsense. We also use the expression oca giuliva (literally, “merry goose”) which takes the whole thing to another level, emphasizing just how blissfully clueless someone can be.
L’attrice è bravissima, anche se nel film le hanno fatto interpretare il ruolo dell’oca giuliva.
The actress is amazing, even though in the film they had her play the role of the silly woman.
15. Essere una formichina
Literally: To be a little ant
Meaning: To be good at saving
Ants plan ahead, save up food, and never waste a single crumb. So, when we call someone una formichina, we’re saying they’re diligent, responsible, and always stashing away resources (especially money).
Marta è una formichina, mette sempre da parte un po’ del suo stipendio per ogni evenienza.
Marta is good at saving, she always puts aside part of her salary for any emergency.
16. Essere uno sciacallo
Literally: To be a jackal
Meaning: To be an opportunistic vulture
This idiom describes those people who take advantage of others when they’re in trouble. You’ll hear it a lot in the news, especially after natural disasters, when sciacalli (looters) rush to rob abandoned homes and shops. But it’s not just about literal theft. Sciacalli are everywhere—in business, politics, and even in everyday life. Think about those who twist information and news just to damage an opponent’s reputation. Those are the sciacalli too.
Dopo il terremoto, gli sciacalli hanno svaligiato la casa dei miei nonni.
After the earthquake, the looters ransacked my grandparents’ house!
17. Andare a letto con le galline
Literally: To go to bed with the chickens
Meaning: To go to bed ridiculously early
Chickens are not night owls: they’re fast asleep as soon as the sun sets. So, if someone va a letto con le galline, it means they’re calling it a night way earlier than most people would.
Mio padre stava sempre sveglio fino a tardi, ma adesso che è in pensione va a letto con le galline.
My dad used to stay up late, but now that he’s retired, he goes to bed super early.
18. Essere matto come un cavallo
Literally: To be as crazy as a horse
Meaning: To be mad as a hatter
When someone is referred to as matto come un cavallo, we’re dealing with a wild, eccentric, and unpredictable personality. Think of a horse that’s just been startled, bucking and kicking all over the place. That’s the kind of personality I’m talking about. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. Sometimes being matto come un cavallo means you’re the one with the wild ideas, the eccentric fashion choices, or the spontaneous dance moves that leave everyone in awe.
Luca è matto come un cavallo, ieri è venuto a fare yoga in costume da supereroe!
Luca is mad as a hatter; yesterday, he came to yoga in a superhero costume!
19. Simpatico come un riccio nelle mutande
Literally: To be as pleasant as a hedgehog in the pants
Meaning: To be super annoying
There’s a special kind of discomfort that comes from the sharp quills of a hedgehog in places you’d rather not mention. Yes, it’s as painful as it sounds, and pretty much how someone simpatico come un riccio nelle mutande feels! This fun Italian expression is the perfect way to describe someone who’s completely unbearable and irritating. Just make sure to keep it casual—this one is best saved for conversations with friends.
Ho conosciuto il nuovo ragazzo di Sara. Mamma mia, è simpatico come un riccio nelle mutande!
I met Sara’s new boyfriend. Oh my God, he’s so annoying!
20. Curioso/a come una scimmia
Literally: To be as curious as a monkey
Meaning: To be a very curious person
Monkeys are always poking around, checking out every little detail, and exploring whatever catches their attention. So, when someone is described as curioso come una scimmia, it means they are super curious, always asking questions and wanting to know everything about anything and everyone.
Essendo curioso come una scimmia, mio marito ha riempito di domande la guida del museo!
Being super curious, my husband filled the museum guide with questions!
21. Avere una memoria da elefante
Literally: To have the memory of an elephant
Meaning: To have an amazing memory
This expression refers to those lucky people who seem to have a photographic memory and can recall even the tiniest details. The curious connection to elephants comes from their very big temporal lobe (the part of the brain responsible for memory), which gives them an incredible ability to remember things from years back.
Mia sorella ha una memoria da elefante, ricorda tutti i numeri di telefono a memoria!
My sister has an amazing memory, she remembers all the phone numbers by heart!
22. Mangiare come un uccellino
Literally: To eat like a little bird
Meaning: To eat very little
If someone eats like a uccellino (little bird), they’re eating very little, taking little bites or nibbling on their food, like a tiny bird pecking around.
Da piccolo, Matteo mangiava come un uccellino, dovevamo sempre insistere.
As a child, Matteo ate like a little bird, we always had to insist.
23. Mangiare come un bue
Literally: To eat like an ox
Meaning: To eat a lot
If a person is eating like a bue (ox), they’re all about big portions and even bigger appetites. The ox comparison is fitting because this animal can munch through kilos of grass without batting an eye, and that’s exactly how these people handle their meals.
Se vai a cena con Stefano, preparati: mangia come un bue!
If you go to dinner with Stefano, get ready: he eats a lot!
24. Non fare male a una mosca
Literally: To not hurt a fly
Meaning: To be a harmless person
This is the ultimate expression for those who are all about peace and kindness. So sweet and gentle, they wouldn’t even hurt a fly—yep, not even the most irritating, buzzing creatures!
Non possono essere stati loro, non farebbero del male a una mosca!
No way it was them, they’re the kind of persons who wouldn’t hurt a fly!
25. Fare il pavone / Pavoneggiarsi
Literally: To act like a peacock
Meaning: To be very vain
When someone acts like a pavone (peacock), they’re not just walking: they’re strutting, chest out, head high, like they own the place. Maybe it’s their looks, their outfit, their latest business win, or just a very confident attitude, but one thing’s for sure: they want to be noticed. We also use the reflexive verb pavoneggiarsi, referring to the fine art of strutting and soaking up every second of admiration.
Il capo non fa altro che pavoneggiarsi di aver vinto la gara, ma tutto il lavoro lo abbiamo fatto noi!
All the boss does is brag about winning the contract, but we did all the work!
Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.
