Italian Idioms

Wolves, cats, dogs, birds and more

• A2In bocca al lupo— Good luck
• A2Crepi il lupo— Thank you — the reply to 'In bocca al lupo'
• A2Essere una volpe— To be cunning or sly

Bread, wine, pasta and Italian flavours

• B1Rendere pan per focaccia— to give tit for tat
• B1Avere il prosciutto sugli occhi— to have blinders on
• B1Essere come il prezzemolo— to be everywhere like parsley

Eyes, hands, head and heart expressions

• a2Costare un occhio della testa— To cost an arm and a leg
• b1Avere le mani in pasta— To be involved in something
• b1Mettere i piedi in testa— To walk all over someone

Romance, relationships and family bonds

• b1Avere il cuore in gola— To have one's heart in one's mouth
• a2Colpo di fulmine— Love at first sight
• a2Perdere la testa per qualcuno— To be completely infatuated with someone

Business, effort and financial idioms

• b1Fare i conti senza l'oste— To count one's chickens before they hatch
• b1Avere le mani in pasta— To have a finger in every pie
• a2Lavorare sodo— To work hard / to grind

Sun, rain, sea and the natural world

• A2Avere la testa tra le nuvole— To be a daydreamer / to be absent-minded
• A2Essere al settimo cielo— To be overjoyed / on cloud nine
• B1Portare acqua al mare— To do something pointless / to carry coals to Newcastle

Red rage, green envy, black moods and more

• b1Vedere tutto rosa— To see the world through rose-tinted glasses
• a2Essere al verde— To be broke
• a2Diventare rosso di rabbia— To turn red with anger

Time, fate, luck and life's journey

• a2Il tempo è denaro— Time is money
• a2Il tempo vola— Time flies
• a2Perdere tempo— To waste time

Joy, anger, fear, pride and all feelings

• b1Avere il sangue freddo— To be cool-headed
• b1Avere il cuore in gola— To have one's heart in one's mouth
• a2Perdere la testa— To lose one's head

Common expressions for daily situations

• A2Prendere due piccioni con una fava— To kill two birds with one stone
• A2Essere al verde— To be broke
• A2Avere il pollice verde— To have a green thumb