8 great Italian idioms

Why do you want a hairless tongue? And why is it a good thing if someone calls you a piece of bread? Now's the time to find out with this post about some great Italian idioms.

in bocca al lupo
In the mouth of the wolf

Used in theatre this is the Italian, and more poetic, equivalent of break a leg. The typical response is ‘crepi il lupo’ meaning ‘may the wolf die’. Poor wolves, they get a bad rap.

un pezzo di pane
a piece of bread

If someone is un pezzo di pane in Italian you might say they’re a good egg in English.

non mi rompere le scatole
don’t break my boxes

If someone’s breaking your boxes, they’re getting on your nerves and you’re telling them to stop annoying you. It’s worth noting this is a variation of a slightly less polite idiom.

prendi lucciole per lanterne
mistaken fireflies for lanterns

If someone has mistake fireflies for lanterns they’ve confused one thing for another. You might say in English that someone’s got the wrong end of the stick.

hai voluto la bicicletta
you wanted the bicycle

Or in full: you wanted the bike, now get on and ride it. A more active version of the English ‘you made your bed, now lie in it’ – i.e. you made the choice now live with the consequences.

qualcosa bolle in pentola
something is boiling in the pot

Best said with tones of suspicion – this means something is brewing, a plot or a plan is underway.

non ho peli sulla lingua
I have no hair on my tongue

One of the more unappetising idioms; if you have no hair on your tongue you’re speaking frankly.

nella botte piccola, c’è il vino buono
in the small cask/barrel, there is good wine

Just like the English ‘good things come in small packages’ only with added wine, which is no bad thing.

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