Olympics are over and Italy did great this year! With 40 medals between bronze, silver and gold, Italy placed 9th in the final ranking.
Italian, like many languages, is rich with idiomatic expressions that color everyday conversation. Infact,many of these expressions originate from the world of sports! Here are five expressions derived from sports that Italians use in their daily language.
1. Appendere le scarpe al chiodo
Translation: To hang up the shoes on a nail
Meaning: To retire (from the career)
Usage: This phrase evokes the image of an athlete literally hanging up their sports shoes, signifying the end of their sport career. In daily Italian, it is used to say that you are retiring or stopping a specific project.
Example: "Dopo vent'anni di carriera, ha deciso di appendere le scarpe al chiodo" ("After twenty years of career, he decided to hang up his shoes").
2. Un colpo basso
Translation: This is a low blow
Meaning: An unfair action or remark
Usage: Borrowed from boxing, where a "colpo basso" is an illegal strike below the belt, this phrase describes an action or comment that is considered unfair or hurtful. It is often used in both personal and professional contexts.
Example: "Quel commento sul suo aspetto fisico è stato un vero colpo basso" ("That comment about his physical appearance was a real low blow").
3. Darsi all’ippica
Translation: To take up horse riding
Meaning: To give up or to joke about starting a new, easier activity
Usage: This expression is humorously used when someone is frustrated with their current activity and jokes about quitting to do something entirely different, often perceived as easier or more leisurely.
Example: "Dopo l'ennesimo progetto fallito, ha detto che si sarebbe dato all'ippica" ("After yet another failed project, he said he would take up horse riding").
4. Alzare l'asticella
Translation: To raise the bar
Meaning: To increase the level of expectations or standards
Usage: Originating from the high jump in athletics, where the bar is literally raised to increase difficulty, this phrase is used in various contexts to signify aiming higher or setting more challenging goals.
Example: "Dopo il successo del primo film, il regista ha deciso di alzare l'asticella per il sequel" ("After the success of the first movie, the director decided to raise the bar for the sequel").
5. Andare a manetta
Translation: To go full throttle
Meaning: To do something at maximum speed or effort
Usage: Derived from motor racing, where "manetta" refers to the throttle, this expression means to go all out or put in maximum effort. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts.
Example 1: "Durante la gara ha deciso di andare a manetta" ("During the race, he decided to go full throttle")
Example 2: "In questo progetto dobbiamo andare a manetta se vogliamo finirlo in tempo" ("We need to go full throttle on this project if we want to finish it on time").
These expressions not only enrich the Italian language but also provide a glimpse into how sports influence everyday communication.
Did you know these idioms? At Scuola Leonardo da Vinci we teach everyday Italian to help you communicate as a native! Visit our website
Learn 3 more sports idioms in the @scuolaleonardomilan reel!
Read more about our tips and tricks for learning Italian the easy way:
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