Each dialect has its own unique idiomatic expressions or phrases, which often cannot be translated into any other language. It is one of the many ways we personalize the communication between us.
Each dialect has its own peculiar ways of speaking: expressions that often cannot be translated into any other language. It is one of the many ways we personalize the communication between us. An idiom is a special phrase or expression with a figurative meaning distinct from its literal meaning. All languages have idiomatic expressions, and in English alone the total is estimated at around 25,000. Typically they cannot be translated directly, but many other languages have their own particular expressions that can express a similar idea.
Italian is no different. However, not surprising, the Italian idiomatic expressions ARE very different from their English counterparts.
Italian Idioms
| A tutti i costi | At any cost – No matter what |
| Affare fatto | It’s a deal |
| Alla buon’ora | It was about time |
| Altro che | Of course; you can bet your life! |
| Amen | Amen |
| Bell’affare | That’s really good! (ironic) |
| Bella roba | Very nice (ironic) |
| Buon per te | Lucky you |
| C’è modo e modo | There are ways and ways |
| Caschi il mondo | No matter what |
| Che barba | How boring |
| Che mattone | How boring |
| Che noia | How boring |
| Che palle | How boring/annoying |
| Che roba | I can’t believe it |
| Che schifo | How disgusting! |
| Che ti passa per la testa? | What’s the matter with you |
| Chi s’è visto s’è visto | Everyone for himself |
| Ci mancherebbe altro | God forbid |
| Ci vuole altro | It takes much more than that |
| Con rispetto parlando | Excuse my French |
| Cose dell’altro mondo | It is out of this world |
| D’altro canto | On the other hand |
| Da morire | A lot |
| Davvero? | Really? |
| Dio ce la mandi buona | Let’s hope for the best |
| È una parola | Easy to say |
| Faccio presente che.. | Bear in mind |
| Fatti gli affari tuoi | Mind your business |
| Fra l’altro | Among other things |
| Gatta ci cova | I smell a rat |
| In ogni modo | Anyway; or at any cost |
| In parole povere | In a few words |
| In poche parole | In a few words |
| Lascia correre | Forget it |
| Lascia perdere | Forget it |
| Lascia stare | Forget it |
| Lasciami stare | Leave me alone |
| Lasciamo perdere | Forget it |
| Lasciamo stare | Forget it |
| Ma va | I don’t believe you. It’s impossible. Don’t tell me that |
| Manco per sogno | In your dreams |
| Meglio così | It is better this way |
| Meglio di nulla | Better this that nothing at all |
| Meno male | Luckily (Good thing!) |
| Mi fa specie di te | I can’t believe you did this |
| Modestia a parte | In all modesty |
| Nemmeno per sogno | In your dream |
| Non c’è altro | That’s all |
| Non fare il prezioso | Don’t play hard to get |
| Non farti pregare | Don’t play hard to get |
| Non ne posso più | I can’t stand it anymore |
| Padronissimo | As you like! All right then! |
| Parole d’oro | Amen, You said it |
| Per carità | God forbid |
| Per farla breve | To cut it short |
| Porca miseria | Damn it |
| Roba da matti | Hard to believe – That’s crazy |
| Santa pace | My goodness |
| Sei sicuro/a? | Are you sure? |
| Senz’altro | Certainly |
| Siamo alle solite | There we go again |
| Stiamo freschi | And now what? |
| Sul serio? | Really? |
| Tanto di guadagnato | So much the better |
| Tanto meglio | So much the better |
| Tanto peggio | So much the worse |
| Tieni presente… | Bear in mind |
| Tutt’altro | On the contrary |
| Vale la pena | It’s worth it |
Italian Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms and figurative expressions are an integral part of how we communicate with each other. In a sense, they are a sort of grammatical curiosity, similar to the use of sarcasm; but it goes much deeper. Some experts suggest that our language reflects the true complexity of our mind, indicating that we are not made to function only on a logical and literal basis. (And don’t forget to watch out for false friends!)
The way we speak is, in a certain sense, artistic, and can help create a bond between people of the same culture, in the presence of certain phrases that only they can understand. It can also establish contact between individuals of different cultures, when they realize that each has a specific phrase to express the same meaning. Or in the Italian-American community, for example, it can help connect them to their roots.
In this way, language becomes more than just a way of exchanging information: it binds us together in a human and lost sense.
[…] A common theme in language learning is that “translating” doesn’t always work. That’s when you might need some idiomatic expressions. […]