Learn Italian Idioms!

Hi, there! I am Luca and this amazing video is aimed at those people who are learning Italian as a foreign language.

I'm referring both to those who are learning Italian on their own, that is by themselves, and those who study Italian at university or in an Italian language school.

More specifically, this video lesson is geared toward those who have already learned the basics of the Italian language and grammar and would like to improve their level.

If you learned Italian and wish to expand your vocabulary by learning new idiomatic phrases, you've come to the right place!

In this video, in fact, I would like to explain the phrase "ANDARE NEL PALLONE".

Let me say right away that there are two versions of this phrase. You can say "andare nel pallone" and "essere nel pallone". It's clear that the two convey a slightly different shade, given by each verb. Because "andare nel pallone" essentially refers to the step before "essere nel pallone". That is, first an individual "va nel pallone", then "è nel pallone".

This idiom is easier to explain with a real-life example, rather than with an abstract definition.

Let's imagine that a young woman has to take a university exam. Let's imagine that this young woman's name is - for a change! - Laura. Ok, so, before the exam this woman studies and gets ready.

Then, the day of the exam, she goes to university. She takes attendance, then the professor calls her, the woman goes there and sits down, and the professor asks her the first question. Let's say that the professor asks Laura something very simple. Let's say that she asks her a very simple question.

Except that... - what happens? Laura is very nervous about the exam, right? She is very worried, she is afraid that she won't be able to pass the exam. So, when the professor asks her the question, Laura starts to get confused.

The question is very simple, in theory Laura has studied, so she knows those things. But she can't answer. For no apparent reason, at some point Laura can't answer the question. She says quite confusing sentences.

Why? Because, due to stress, due to nervousness and the exam, Laura "è andata nel pallone".

What does it mean? It means that in a certain sense she temporarily lost clarity of thought. That is, she is not able to think lucidly due to stress and nervousness.

Basically, anxiety doesn't allow Laura to think lucidly and, as a consequence, she says quite confusing sentences. The question is simple, but she answers in a confused manner.

To indicate a person who temporarily loses clarity of thought in this sense, we say that the person "va nel pallone", "è andata nel pallone".

Because there are these strong emotions, right? Stress, fear, etc., which don't allow the person to think clearly. And at that point it's not important that the person has in fact studied. Because, in any case, when the person is in this state, when somebody "è nel pallone", they can't think clearly, they can't speak sense.

You have surely witnessed this type of situations, or you may have experienced them yourself, right?

Somebody is asked a question, and they start saying: "Yes, well, basically. No, that is... because... Oh my God! I don't remember!" And in that moment it really seems that the person doesn't remember. So, even doing something simple, answering a simple question, is problematic for this person.

If the person were not "nel pallone", it would be extremely easy for them to answer that question. It would be a piece of cake. Instead, somebody "nel pallone" can't marshal their thoughts, they can't speak sense.

Why do people say "andare nel pallone" or "essere nel pallone"?

Because the imagery is this: it is as if the person where inside a balloon and the balloon rolled. So the person feels like "spinned" from one part to the other. Well, in Italian we use the verb "sballottare" to indicate this. The person is "sballottata", that is, first pushed to one side, then to the other.

Because if you are inside a balloon, right? I mean a big balloon... When the balloon rolls, it turns upside down and everything inside capsizes, right? So you can feel that you are being pushed first to one side and then to the other. And the thoughts of this person do exactly the same. That is, anxiety, fear, nervousness... - they push the person first to one side, then to the other, and the person can't think clearly.

Well, I for one have always heard this phrase used this way. That is, in reference to fear, anxiety, - negative emotions, if you will. And I would say that I have heard it almost exclusively at school and university. That is, when somebody should take an exam, or a written exam.

In case of written exam, what happens? The person gets a sheet of paper, right? The sheet of paper of the exam. They read and "va nel pallone". Meaning that they read what they should do... and... - chances are, in theory they can do these things, but in that precise moment they lose clarity of thought because of anxiety.

Another example, closer to us, is foreign language learning, I mean, speaking a foreign language.

Many people know a language very well, but then, when someone starts talking to them in that language, "vanno nel pallone". Meaning that they can't reply, they can't express themselves like they are theoretically able to do. What happens? People can't answer properly due to anxiety.

If you are in Italy, and someone approaches you, start talking to you, start talking in Italian, you may freak out. You may have understood what they asked you, and in theory you are able to answer. But in that moment you lose it, because anxiety doesn't allow you to speak. I mean, it's not that is doesn't allow you to speak, it doesn't allow you to marshal your thoughts and answer in a logical manner.

We could do other examples. For example, I could say: "Domani all'esame spero proprio di non andare nel pallone". What does it mean? I hope that I'll be able to take the exam in a lucid manner.

As you may recall, earlier I told you that you can also say "essere nel pallone", right? I could say: "Non riesco a scrivere niente perché sono nel pallone". For instance, in reference to an exam. Or I could say to the professor: "Guardi, non riesco a risponderle, sono nel pallone!"

It's clear that this is a colloquial phrase, so always keep it in mind.

In theory, you could also say "mandare qualcuno nel pallone". For example, I could say: "La domanda della professoressa mi ha mandato nel pallone". Or: "La terza domanda del compito scritto mi ha mandato nel pallone". What does it mean? It means: it made me suddenly lose clarity of thought.

Well, that is it! I hope that you liked this Italian idiom! Till next time!

May the Force of Advanced Italian be with you!