39 Great Italian Idioms You Will Love To Use (+Free PDF)

The only things that Italians love more than their family and good food are good conversations.

Italians and Italian-speakers are known for being friendly and eager to talk about everything from their family to the weather.

If you are trying to learn Italian, you will find no shortage of Italian speakers who would be happy to talk to you and help you improve your conversational skills. However, you might run into problems because Italian speakers have a lot of interesting and colorful idioms that they use daily.

An idiom is a phrase where literal translation is often very different from what the speaker means when they say it. If you really want to say you are “fluent” in Italian, you need to learn Italian idioms. Here are a few to start you off. 

Bonus: Get a FREE PDF with 39 useful Italian idioms

1. Hai volute la bicicletta

Translation: You wanted the bicycle

Meaning: Live with the consequences of your choices

This is a wise Italian idiom that basically counsels someone to learn to own up to their choices and live with what those choices brought. Similar to the English expression, “you make your bed, now lie on it”.

2. In bocca al Lupo

Translation: In the mouth of the wolf

Meaning: How to wish a performer luck

There is an Italian superstition that states that you should not wish a performer “good luck”. This is a superstition shared by many English speakers as well, so they would tell an actor or a musician to “break a leg”.  Italians will say “in bocca al Lupo” under the same circumstances.

3. Crepi il Lupo

Translation: May the wolf die

Meaning: What to say in response to “in bocca al Lupo”

An English performer will probably just say “thanks” if you tell them “break a leg”. This, however, is the proper Italian response if someone tells you “in bocca al Lupo”. 

4. A mali estremi, estremi rimedi

Translation: Too extreme evils, extreme remedies

Meaning: Do what is needed

This phrase is used when a person realizes that, to solve a problem, they will have to do something they don’t really want to. Maybe they need to sell a family heirloom or contact a romantic rival, whatever it is; they wouldn’t do it if they were not desperate. 

5. Braccia rubate all’agricoltura

Translation: Arms stolen from agricultural work

Meaning: Unqualified

This Italian idiom is used to imply that someone has been given a job they are unqualified for. They are “clueless” about what needs to be done. 

6. Avere le braccine corte

Translation: To have short arms

Meaning: Cheapskate

This idiom is used to describe in Italian what we know in English as a “cheapskate” or a stingy person.

7. Non mi rompere le scatole 

Translation: Don’t break my boxes

Meaning: Stop annoying me

If someone is getting on your nerves and you want them to stop, you can say this in Italian.

8. Tirare il pacco

Translation: To throw the package

Meaning: Didn’t show up

This Italian idiom is used when you are trying to say that someone who you were expecting to meet, did not show up. 

9. Qualcosa bolle in pentola

Translation: Something is boiling in the pot

Meaning: Planning or plotting

If you think that someone is up to something, like they are planning a surprise party, you can say that this is what they are doing.

10. Affogare in un bicchier d’acqua

Meaning: To drown in a glass of water

Translation: Overwhelmed

This implies that someone has great difficulty overcoming obstacles. The implication here is, their problems aren’t that serious but they are acting like it’s “the end of the world.”

11. Avere un cervello di gallina

Translation: To have a hen’s brain

Meaning: Dumb

Chicken isn’t necessarily known for their intelligence, which is why this Italian idiom is used to imply someone is stupid.

12. Fare le corna a qualcuno

Translation: To have the horns put on you

Meaning: Cuckold

When an Italian uses this idiom, they are saying that someone’s significant other is cheating on them.

13. Buono come il pane

Translation: Good as bread

Meaning: Good-hearted person

This Italian idiom is similar to the English expression “having a heart of gold”. It is used to describe someone who is an all-around good person.

14. Diciamo pane al pane e vino al vino

Translation: Let’s say bread for bread and wine for wine

Meaning: Honest and direct

If an Italian person uses this expression, they are describing a person who doesn’t “sugar coat” or “beat around the bush”. If you ask them for their opinion, they will give it frankly and honestly.

16. Cane non mangia cane

Translation: Dog does not eat dog

Meaning: Everyone has a code of honor

This Italian idiom is equivalent to the idea that there is “honor among thieves”. The idea is that everyone has a certain standard of things that they won’t do because it’s not considered honorable.

17. Stare con le mani ni mano

Translation: To hold your hands with your own hand

Meaning: Do nothing

Someone who does this is implied to be lazy, good for nothing. This is the person who doesn’t contribute to a group project.

18. Prendi lucciole per lantere

Translation: Mistaken fireflies for lanterns

Meaning: Wrong

This Italian idiom is something that is said when the speaker suspects that someone is confused. They are wrong in their opinion or their answer.

19. Calare le brache

Translation: To pull down one’s pants

Meaning: Give up

This is a confusing phrase when translated. I can’t think why this would mean that a person is giving up.

20. Non ci piove

Translation: It doesn’t rain on it

Meaning: I don’t doubt it

This is used by Italians to express confidence in an idea or opinion. They are confident that they are right.

21. Trovarsi fra l’incudin e il martello

Translation: To be between the anvil and the hammer

Meaning: Faced with two difficult choices

This is basically the Italian equivalent to the idea that you are “between a rock and a hard place”. You have two choices, and neither of these choices is particularly appealing.

22. Un pezzo grosso

Translation: A big piece

Meaning: Important person

This Italian idiom is the equivalent of the English expression “big shot”. It describes someone of power and influence, like the CEO or a company or a politician.

23. Acqua in bocca!

Translation: Keep water in your mouth

Meaning: Keep a secret

When an Italian speaker used this idiom, they are telling you that what they are about to say should be kept in the strictest confidence. It is a secret or private.

24. Non sei capace di tenerti un cece in bocca

Translation: You’re not able to keep a chickpea in your mouth

Meaning: You can’t keep a secret

If you “blabbed” something that an Italian told you in confidence, you might hear them use this idiom.

25. Non ho peli sulla lingua

Translation: I have no hair on my tongue

Meaning: I’m speaking frankly

If someone has decided to give the honest truth, with no “sugar-coating” this is the Italian idiom for it.

26. Minestra riscaldata

Translation: Reheated soup

Meaning: Rekindled love

This may not sound very appetizing, but many Italians – and people of other cultures – hope that this could happen to them. This basically refers to rekindled love. Maybe you dated in college but broke up. Then you saw each other again and decided to give it another try and now your relationship may be “reheated” but it is better and stronger.

This is usually used for a romantic relationship, but it can also be used for friends or business partners. In this case, it just means that you have renewed your relationship with someone else.

27. Tutto fa brood

Translation: Everything makes soup

Meaning: Everyone has something to contribute

Think about it. When you make soup, you often toss bits of different ingredients in one pot of water. All these ingredients combine to make a tasty and nourishing dish. The idea behind this idiom is the same as “every little bit helps”, so whatever you can contribute to a task will count in the end.

28. L’amore domina senza regole

Translation: Love rules without rules

Meaning: Do anything for love

This is basically equivalent to the idea that “all’s fair in love and war”. So, in the pursuit of love, Italians are prepared to do anything.

29. Farsene un baffo

Translation: To make a mustache of it

Meaning: Don’t fuss

This Italian idiom may sound funny, but it’s actually bitwise. An Italian who tells you this is basically saying that something is not worth making a fuss over. You should treat a situation as insignificant because it’s not that difficult to bear.

30. All come viene, viene

Translation: It comes out as it comes out

Meaning: What will be will be

If an Italian speaker uses this idiom, they are basically saying that they are not bothered about something. It’s equivalent to the idea that “it is what it is”. 

31. Conosco I miei polli

Translation: I know my chickens

Meaning: I know what I’m doing

Italians will say this if they want to say “I don’t need help”. It expresses confidence in one’s ability.

32. Morto un papa, se ne fa un altro

Translation: One pope dies, another will be made

Meaning: Life goes on

The idea behind this Italian idiom is, even if something bad happens to you, life will go on. 

33. L’erba del vicino è sempre più

Translation: Neighbor’s grass is always greener

Meaning: Envious

This is similar to the English idiom that states “the grass is always greener on the other side”. It denotes a feeling of envy for another person, who may or may not be your literal neighbor. 

34. Fare troppi atti in commedia

Translation: To make too many acts in a comedy

Meaning: Doing too much

If you hear someone saying this in Italian, they are basically telling you that you are taking on too many things at one time. If someone says this to you at work, you might want to think about delegating some tasks to others. 

35. Ti sta a pennello!

Translation: Fits you like a paintbrush

Meaning: A piece of clothing is the proper size

This is a flattering Italian idiom that means that something you are wearing fits you well. If you hear this from a salesperson at a fashion store, buy the outfit.

36. I frutti proibiti sono i più dolci

Translation: Forbidden fruit is the sweetest

Meaning: Making something forbidden makes it more interesting

The idea expressed here is, when we know we are “forbidden” from something, the more we want to do it.

37. È tutto pepe!

Translation: He is all pepper

Meaning: Lively

Someone who is “all pepper” is someone who is full of life or is always in high spirits. Someone who livens up a party.

38. Cercare I peli nell’uovo

Translation: To look for hairs in the egg

Meaning: To nitpick

This Italian idiom is used to describe someone who is very critical. The implication is that they are just looking for a reason to complain or be dissatisfied with something. 

39. Un cane in chiesa

Translation: A dog in church

Meaning: An unwelcome guest

Dogs are not really allowed in churches, so they are unwelcome in the church. This Italian idiom is used to refer to a person, not a dog, who isn’t welcome or invited.

Conclusion

As native Italian speakers use idioms like the ones we’ve listed above almost automatically, it’s important to build up a mental database of these expressions if you want to understand daily conversations.

In order to “speak” with Italian speakers, you need to build up a mental database of common Italian words and common Italian idioms. By learning the idioms we list here and more, you can better follow along and participate in Italian conversations and Italian life.

We suggest that you download this free PDF of Italian idioms and commit to heart what they mean. You should also go through this list with a native Italian speaking tutor. They can help you with the pronunciation and also suggest a few more that it would be good to learn.