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Ecco il modo di dire !!

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    #32
    jumpjack
    Registered Users Posts: 131 ✭✭jumpjack


    It's used just in Naples and surroundings.


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    #33
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    Here's one that I was reminded of recently:

    "Un colpo d'aria" ("a hit/blast of air")

    It denotes a draft or blast of air that if exposed to will likely result in illness, aches and other maladies. It's a particularly Italian expression which is central to the hypochondria that Italians suffer from, but does exist in other languages/cultures to a lesser extent.

    As such you'll hear it used as a warning, in particular by Italian mothers/grandmothers to children, as they wrap them up in the equivalent of Siberian survival gear, and from people already with aches, colds or temperatures as an explanation as to how they got them - "Avrò preso un colpo d'aria".


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    #34
    population
    Registered Users Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭population


    The Corinthian wrote: »
    Here's one that I was reminded of recently:

    "Un colpo d'aria" ("a hit/blast of air")

    It denotes a draft or blast of air that if exposed to will likely result in illness, aches and other maladies. It's a particularly Italian expression which is central to the hypochondria that Italians suffer from, but does exist in other languages/cultures to a lesser extent.

    As such you'll hear it used as a warning, in particular by Italian mothers/grandmothers to children, as they wrap them up in the equivalent of Siberian survival gear, and from people already with aches, colds or temperatures as an explanation as to how they got them - "Avrò preso un colpo d'aria".

    They say 'un colpo di freddo' down here. Such a strange thing. Between that and 'soffro il cervicale':D All manner of ailments I never knew were possible before!


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    #35
    EmmaAstra
    Registered Users Posts: 41 ✭EmmaAstra


    un colpo di strega

    Let's continue the un colpo di... theme!

    Literally, a hit/blow/strike of a witch, it describes a sudden and intense back pain.

    It's a great image, don't you think?

    :D


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    #36
    flo_indublin
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭flo_indublin


    EmmaAstra wrote: »
    un colpo di strega

    Let's continue the un colpo di... theme!

    Literally, a hit/blow/strike of a witch, it describes a sudden and intense back pain.

    It's a great image, don't you think?

    :D

    it's il colpo della strega

    It is indeed a funny image, you can almost imagine a witch hitting you on the back with her broom..:-)

    Another one is, un colpo di fortuna, a stroke of luck? You can say that in English too I think..."Un colpo di fortuna" in any case is the elegant version of this expression :D


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    #37
    Irish Stones
    Registered Users Posts: 2,307 ✭✭✭Irish Stones


    population wrote: »
    Is 'Quando Mai' used outside of the South? I was in Milan recently and said it in a conversation with a barman and he didn't seem to get it? Maybe I got the context wrong or something?

    I'm Italian, born in Italy and living in Italy.
    "Quando mai" is used everywhere. If the barman didn't get it he was not Italian.


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    #38
    Irish Stones
    Registered Users Posts: 2,307 ✭✭✭Irish Stones


    The Corinthian wrote: »
    "Tutte belle cose"
    A pretty common expression used, typically as part of a good bye, wishing the other party "all good things [to come to you]".

    Allow me to amend this sentence, it's "Tante belle cose", meaning [I wish] "many good things" [to come to you]


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    #39
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    Irish Stones wrote: »
    Allow me to amend this sentence, it's "Tante belle cose", meaning [I wish] "many good things" [to come to you]
    Depends where you're from - tutte rather than tante, I've heard used in Rome, for example.


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    #40
    Irish Stones
    Registered Users Posts: 2,307 ✭✭✭Irish Stones


    The Corinthian wrote: »
    Depends where you're from - tutte rather than tante, I've heard used in Rome, for example.

    This way of saying is mostly used in southern Italy, from Rome and further south. If you hear it in northern Italy is because it's been spoken out by a southern man livining in the north. As far as I know "tutte" isn't used at all. I'm Italian, I've never heard it, and if I may say my opinion, it could be hardly understood.


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    #41
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    Irish Stones wrote: »
    This way of saying is mostly used in southern Italy, from Rome and further south. If you hear it in northern Italy is because it's been spoken out by a southern man livining in the north. As far as I know "tutte" isn't used at all. I'm Italian, I've never heard it, and if I may say my opinion, it could be hardly understood.
    Quite likely more southern, although I'd be surprised if it were hardly understood if heard in the north. Personally I've only heard it used in Rome, and only from older people, as far as I remember.

    My own family, who would be predominantly northern, I've never heard using the expression at all, TBH.


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