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Italy has plenty of colorful local proverbs to express one\u2019s point with wisdom and humor. Italian sayings are short expressions which often have regional variations and deep historical and traditional roots.<\/p>\n
There are proverbs about food, love, women, wine, animals and work. Italians have a saying for almost every aspect of life!<\/p>\n
Some of these proverbs you will probably hear over and over if you go to Italy. Let\u2019s take a look at the ten most famous Italian sayings which will spice up your vocabulary and grammar and teach you a lot about the Italian culture.<\/p>\n
Every Italian child has surely heard this saying from his mother or grandmother: the literal meaning is \u201cEither eat this soup or jump out of the window!\u201d. <\/em><\/p>\n This rhyming threat is actually a way to say \u201cTake it or leave it<\/em>\u201d. You can notice that the Italian structure \u201cO\u2026 o..\u201d is the equivalent of the English \u201cEither\u2026 or..\u201d.<\/p>\n How about you? Would you rather eat your vegetables or contemplate jumping out of the window?<\/p>\n It\u2019s probably not the most refined variation of the English saying “Haste makes waste”. It literally translates to: \u201cThe hasty cat gave birth to blind kittens”.<\/p>\n Here the verb \u201cha fatto\u201d (present perfect of the infinitive fare: to do<\/em>) is used to convey the meaning of \u201cgive birth to\u201d. As in English, this proverb is used to say that things done too quickly tend to turn out badly.<\/p>\n A variation of this saying is \u201cla gatta frettolosa ha fatto i gattini ciechi, ma quella lenta fin\u00ec sotto una macchina\u201d<\/em>, which means \u201cThe hasty cat gave birth to blind kittens, but the slow one was hit by a car<\/em>\u201d, a way to say that the best method to do something is often to compromise.<\/p>\n Many Italian sayings seem to include cats, so here\u2019s another one. This translates as \u201cwhen the cat isn\u2019t there, the mice dance\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n This proverb expresses a situation in which, in the absence of a danger or vigilance, someone can finally feel relieved and do what they want, perhaps unaware of the fact that “the cat” sooner or later will return and there will be bitter consequences to face.<\/p>\n English has a very similar version of this one: \u201cWhen the cat\u2019s away, the mice will play\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, many Italian sayings include food. This one translates as \u201cNot all donuts come out with a hole\u201d,<\/em> but its meaning is not directly related with cakes or desserts. It actually means that things don’t always turn out as planned.<\/p>\n This proverb is often said to someone who is sad for something unpleasant, for something he\/she did and didn\u2019t come out as expected, or for a situation that seemed favorable but ended badly.<\/p>\n English speakers will generally use sentences such as “you can’t win all the time”, or “things don’t always turn out as planned”.<\/p>\n The final interpretation of the Italian version, however, is still positive: despite the failure, you are still left with a donut (or at least something similar) to eat! This is the perfect example of popular wisdom. It translates as \u201cthe mother of idiots is always pregnant”.<\/em><\/p>\n The meaning is, simply, that you will always meet idiots in the world, no matter where you go: there are, and there will always be a few stupid people around.<\/p>\n When you meet someone who acts in a foolish way or does something particularly silly you can turn to your friend and say \u201cla mamma dei cretini \u00e8 sempre incinta\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n The English equivalent would be \u201cThere’s one born every minute\u201d<\/em> or \u201cthere\u2019s a sucker born every minute\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n This is another proverb that you will hear very often in Italy. Let\u2019s imagine that you receive two job offers: the first position is quite boring but you are offered a great salary. The second job, however, is a really exciting one but the salary is definitely lower.<\/p>\n You go to your friend for advice and they reply: \u201cnon si pu\u00f2 avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriac<\/em>a\u201d, or literally: \u201cYou can\u2019t have a full cask and a drunk wife<\/em>\u201d. This proverb best describes a situation where you must choose between two opportunities which are both appealing, but each one has its advantages and downsides.<\/p>\n Even if you want it all, in the end you will have to choose one of the given options. The English equivalent of this proverb is \u201cYou can\u2019t have your cake and eat it too<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n If someone tells you \u201cNon fare di una mosca un elefante\u201d<\/em> what he means is that you shouldn\u2019t make a big deal out of a small matter.<\/p>\n The literal translation is \u201cTo make an elephant out of a fly\u201d.<\/em> The English equivalent would be \u201cto make a mountain out of a molehill<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n This sentence doesn\u2019t actually have its roots in Italy, but comes from the Ancient Greek writer Lucian, who used it for the first time in his work named \u201cThe Fly\u201d.<\/p>\n2. La gatta frettolosa ha fatto i gattini ciechi<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Vocabulary list<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Meaning<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Quando il gatto non c\u2019\u00e8 i topi ballano<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Vocabulary list<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Meaning<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Vocabulary list<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Meaning<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n5. La mamma dei cretini \u00e8 sempre incinta<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Vocabulary list<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Meaning<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Non si pu\u00f2 avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Vocabulary list<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Meaning<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7. Far di una mosca un elefante<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Vocabulary list<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Meaning<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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