Idiomatic Expressions
An idiomatic expression is an expression whose meaning cannot be translated literally from one language into another. Native speakers of English are able to deduce the figurative meaning of the expression “It's raining cats and dogs.” For non-native speakers of English, this expression can be puzzling, if not downright scary! In order to understand the expression and others like it, a person must develop an understanding of the culture in which it is used.
How can I ask someone's age?
The idiomatic expression Quanti anni hai? (literally, “How many years do you have?”) is used to ask the question “How old are you?” Use the expression Io ho (number) anni (I'm [number] years old) to respond. Not that you would travel throughout Italy asking people their age, but it's helpful to know!
The verbs avere and essere are used with many idiomatic expressions in Italian. The key to understanding these idiomatic expressions is to not let your knowledge of English get in your way — try not to get into the habit of translating the expressions word for word!
Table 4-6
Though not as common as idiomatic expressions with avere, there are a few useful idiomatic expressions using the verb essere.
Table 4-7
Italian |
English |
essere al verde |
to be broke |
essere in gioco |
to be at stake |
essere nelle nuvole |
to daydream, to have one's head in the clouds |
essere sano come un pesce |
to be fit as a fiddle |
essere buono come il pane |
to be worth one's weight in gold |
essere una buona forchetta |
to be a hearty eater |
essere ricco sfondato |
to be filthy rich |
essere sazio |
to be full |
essere un morto di fame |
to be a nobody or a nothing |
essere sciupato |
to have gotten skinnier |
essere in gamba |
to be on the ball |
Table 4-8
Io ho sonno. |
I am sleepy. |
Tu hai caldo. |
You are hot. |
Table 4-9
Marco ha freddo. |
Marco is cold. |
Giovanni ha fretta. |
Giovanni is in a hurry. |
Noi siamo al verde. |
We are broke. |
Il nostro onore è in gioco. |
Our honor is at stake. |
Marco e Carlo sono sempre nelle nuvole. |
Marco and Carlo are always daydreaming. |
Quanto sei sciupato! |
How skinny you've gotten! |
