The secret to comprehend the language is the intonation, though. Italians are very expressive, when they talk. 1. Drunk as a monkey
In Italian: “ubriaco come una scimmia” or “avere la scimmia addosso“. In Italy they do not say “ I am wasted”. The colloquial expression that they use is “drink till you see monkeys up on our shoulders” or “get drunk like them”!
2. No hair on the tongue
3. The wine cask full and the wife drunk
In Italian: “Avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca.“ This colloquial expressions is used when someone you know want to have two things simultaneously. These things are incompatible, though.
4. Very short arms
In Italian: “Avere le braccine corte“. This is a hilarious colloquial expression in the Italian language. It is used for people, who are not so generous and have so short arms, which disable them from reaching their wallets.
5. Into the Wolf’s mouth
In Italian: “In bocca al lupo“. This is the expression that is equivalent to “Break a leg”. It means “good luck” and it is widely said for every occasion. It is not common to use the literal expression of “good luck”.
6. To have the horns put on you or to put horns on someone
In Italian: “Fare le corna a qualcuno”. If you say that in Italian, you are cheating your soulmate with someone else. Similar expressions using “horns” are also used in other Mediterranean countries; like Greece.
7. To throw the package
In Italian: “Tirare/ Mollare il pacco“. This expressions is one of the most creative ones. There is no figurative meaning of this, of course. It means “to stand someone up”.
8. To the bean
In Italian: “A fagiolo“. This colloquial expression is used for expressing the precision that is needed in several occasions. It is equivalent with the American expression “to the letter.”
9. Only four Cats
In Italian: “Solo quattro gatti“. This is a very common colloquial expression. It is used by Italians to describe a place, where there are just a few people. That also indicated that the event in that place would be boring
10. Make the Chicken laugh
In Italian: “Far ridere i polli“. If something is extremely ridiculous, this colloquial expression is used. It indicated that the fact is so funny that even the chicken will laugh. If you consider it, the expression itself is also hilarious.
11. The cat goes to the lard so much, it leaves behind a little paw
In Italian: “Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino“. This is a special colloquial expression that is used for someone, who repeats the same mistake. This person making the same mistakes will eventually leave incriminating evidence behind
12. The devil makes the pots, but not the lids
In Italian: “Il diavolo fa le pentole ma non i coperchi“. This phrase is a famous Italian proverb. It indicates that people will always do something bad or dishonest, but traces will always remain.
13. Eating dead bodies
In Italian: “Mangiare cadaveri“. If you think about it, this expression is quite macabre. However, it simply describes someone having bad breath.
14. Eat this soup or jump out of the window
In Italian: “Mangia questa minestra o salta da questa finestra“. The most successful equivalent in English may be “take it or leave it”. This colloquial phrase indicates when someone has only one actual option.
15. Every death of the pope
In Italian: “Ogni morte di papa“. This colloquial expression is used only for things that happen very rarely. It is an actual metaphor that reminds us that a death of a pope is rare. The English equivalent is “once in a blue moon.”
