Rule reminder
At advanced level, idioms reveal as much about the SPEAKER as about the situation. Why does a speaker choose an idiom over a literal phrase? Often because idioms carry emotional distance (understatement), solidarity (shared cultural references), humor, or criticism. Analyze the full social context, not just the meaning.
Direttore: 'Devo dirti una cosa, Marco. Hai presentato solo la prima metà del rapporto.' Marco: 'Lo so. L'ho fatto a metà perché sono stato male.' Direttore: 'Capisco, ma questo è un problema serio.' What is Marco implicitly admitting AND what excuse does he offer?