Index
Learning Italian isn’t just about grammar and vocabulary, it’s also about learning how Italians actually speak. That’s where idiomatic expressions come in. Known as “modi di dire”, these phrases are often colorful, funny, and full of culture.
Here are 30 must-know Italian idioms, with explanations and examples in context. Let’s dive in!
In bocca al lupo
Literal: In the mouth of the wolf
Meaning: Good luck
Response: Crepi il lupo! or Viva il lupo!
Avere le mani bucate
Literal: To have holes in your hands
Meaning: To spend money easily
Chi dorme non piglia pesci
Literal: Those who sleep don’t catch fish
Meaning: You snooze, you lose
Piove sul bagnato
Literal: It rains on the wet
Meaning: The rich get richer / the unlucky get more misfortunes
Fare una figuraccia
Literal: To make an ugly figure
Meaning: To embarrass oneself
Non vedere l’ora
Literal: To not see the hour
Meaning: To be excited about something
Non vedo l’ora di andare in vacanza!
Andare a gonfie vele
Literal: To go with full sails
Meaning: To go very well
Cadere dalle nuvole
Literal: To fall from the clouds
Meaning: To be completely surprised or unaware
Avere un diavolo per capello
Literal: To have a devil in each hair
Meaning: To be very angry
Essere al settimo cielo
Literal: To be in the seventh heaven
Meaning: To be very happy
Perdere le staffe
Literal: To lose the stirrups
Meaning: To lose your temper
Togliersi un peso
Literal: To remove a weight
Meaning: To feel relieved
Avere le braccia corte
Literal: To have short arms
Meaning: To be stingy
Essere in alto mare
Literal: To be in the open sea
Meaning: Far from finishing something
Costare un occhio della testa
Literal: To cost an eye from your head
Meaning: To be very expensive
Fare il passo più lungo della gamba
Literal: To take a step longer than your leg
Meaning: To overreach
Avere un chiodo fisso
Literal: To have a fixed nail
Meaning: To obsess over something
Andare di fretta
Literal: To go in a hurry
Meaning: To be in a rush
Essere tutto pepe
Literal: To be all pepper
Meaning: To be full of energy
Stare con le mani in mano
Literal: To stay with your hands in your hands
Meaning: To do nothing
Non avere peli sulla lingua
Literal: To not have hair on your tongue
Meaning: To speak very frankly
Mordersi la lingua
Literal: To bite your tongue
Meaning: To hold back from saying something
Restare a bocca aperta
Literal: To stay with your mouth open
Meaning: To be amazed
Tagliare la testa al toro
Literal: To cut the bull’s head off
Meaning: To make a final, drastic decision
Saltare di palo in frasca
Literal: To jump from pole to branch
Meaning: To change the subject constantly
Avere la testa tra le nuvole
Literal: To have your head in the clouds
Meaning: To be distracted or dreamy
Mettere le mani avanti
Literal: To put your hands forward
Meaning: To make excuses in advance
Far venire l’acquolina in bocca
Literal: To make saliva come to your mouth
Meaning: To make someone’s mouth water
Tenere il piede in due scarpe (o staffe)
Literal: To keep a foot in two shoes
Meaning: To try to do two conflicting things at the same time
Cascare dalle nuvole
Literal: To fall from the clouds
Meaning: To be shocked or caught by surprise (similar to “Cadere dalle nuvole”)
Tips for learning “modi di dire”
- Don’t translate literally: Focus on the meaning, not the words.
- Listen to native content (films, TV, YouTube): Idioms pop up a lot!
- Use flashcards with examples in context
- Practice in conversation: Try using one new idiom each week.
