B2 — Upper Intermediate❤️ Love & Family
Avere le mani bucate
To be unable to hold on
Literal Translation
"To have holes in one's hands"
What it means
To be unable to hold on; figuratively, to let love slip through one's fingers. Primarily used for money (being a spendthrift), this expression also works metaphorically for opportunities and relationships that one fails to hold onto.
Example in context
"Ha avuto tante occasioni con lei, ma con le mani bucate che ha, se le è lasciate scappare tutte."
"He had so many chances with her, but he let them all slip through his fingers."
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