The widely used Italian idiom essere in gamba is used to describe someone who is exceptionally skilled, intelligent, competent, or capable. Some common English translations include:
- to be on the ball
- to be with it
- to be as sharp as a tack
essere in gamba
to be very capable
Literally translated, it means “to be on the leg,” suggesting the idea of being on one’s feet and ready to take on any challenge.
Maria è molto in gamba nel suo lavoro.
Maria is very good at her job.
Originally, essere in gamba conveyed the idea of being in good health, drawing a connection between physical well-being and the ability to stand on two legs. In a more metaphorical sense, when Italians employ this expression, it goes beyond mere health acknowledgment. It becomes a subtle nod to someone’s reliability, comprehensive competence, and their remarkable ability to “stand independently” in various aspects of life. (Source: Sul Romanzo)
When portraying someone with exceptional skill, you might encounter the term in gambissima. The intensifying suffixes -issimo and -issima, typically signifying “very” or “extremely” when added to adjectives and adverbs, can also be playfully attached to nouns. This not only forms extremes but also adds a touch of humor to the description.
Sei in gambissima, nessuno è più bravo di te!
You are super talented, no one is better than you!
Two related expressions are In gamba! and Sta’ / Stai in gamba!, both of which mean “Take care of yourself!“
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.
