Conìgliolo: Variation of coniglio (‘rabbit'). Example: ‘La mi dia anche un conìgliolo, così lo fo' arrosto pe' i bambini.' (‘Go ahead and give me a rabbit, too. I'll roast it for the kids.') Ghevido: Cool. Example: ‘Oh,
Larderello/i: ‘Love handles.' Example: ‘Non mi piaccio in quella foto, si vedono tutti i larderelli!' (‘I don't like that picture of me: you can see my love handles!') Formicola: Ant. Example: ‘Eccoci! La cucina lè
Tra ninnoli e nannoli Between one thing and another. Example: ‘Mah, tra ninnoli e nannoli si finirà a mezzanotte.’ (‘Jeez, between one thing and another, we’ll finish at midnight.’) ...
Essere ridotto al lumicino During the fifteenth century, the Oratory of the Buonomini, located in the church of San Martino, was founded as a charity for poveri vergognosi, members of ...
Da dare e da serbare: Literally ‘to give and to keep.' Figuratively, the saying indicates something possessed in large quantity-so much that there is plenty to go around. Example: ‘Sta' tranquillo che stiacciata ce nè da dare e da serbare, un t'hai visto quanto
Ceccotoccami: Pest. A person (usually a child) who loves to get a rise and a reaction out of others. Imagine a kid goading or daring one of his friends, ‘Dai Cecco, toccami!' (‘Come on, Cecco, touch me!'). Example: ‘O ma guarda che i' tu' figliolo l'
Spunzonata Punch or very hard blow. Example: ‘Se sèguita gli dó una spunzonata nì viso!’ (‘If he keeps it up, I’m going to punch him in the face!’) Curtello/curtella ...
Si schianta da' i' cardo: To be burning up from excessive heat. Example: ‘O nini, apri le finestre che si schianta da' i' cardo!' (‘Oh, little one, open the windows; it's burning up in here!') Roba da gatti fradici: Literally, ‘stuff of wet cats.'
Dai picchia e mena Common phrase used to indicate resolution of a situation through dogged persistence. Example: ‘Dai picchia e mena, alla fine ci se’ fatta! Se’ trovato la strada!’ ...
E unnè i’ bere, gliè i’ ribere! Literally, ‘It’s not the drink, it’s the drinking again!’ Expression used to describe the effects of drinking to excess. Example: ‘Gino! Come mi ...