C1 — Advanced👁️ Body Parts
Avere le unghie lunghe
To be grasping
Literal Translation
"To have long fingernails"
What it means
To be grasping. Describes someone who is corrupt and uses their position to extract money or favors from others.
Example in context
"Quel funzionario ha le unghie lunghe — aspettati di dover pagare."
"That official has long fingernails — expect to have to pay."
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