Learn Italian idioms!

In this video I'm gonna explain 17 Italian idioms with the word "spalle".

I am Luca and this is an Italian learning podcast.

If you're learning the Italian language, you've come to the right place! On this channel, in fact, I regularly publish podcasts aimed at those who study Italian as a foreign language.

This video lesson is a reply to a specific request that I received some time ago from one of my subscribers. This young woman specifically asked me to explain some phrases with the word "spalle".

Alright! You surely know the word "spalle". These are my "spalle". This is my... - (sweet Christmas!)

Alright! You surely know the word "spalle", I don't need to explain it to you. The word "spalle" refers to these. This is my left "spalla", this is my right "spalla". The plural of "spalla" is "spalle".

Like I said, in this podcast I'm gonna explain 17 Italian idioms with the word "spalle".

If you use these phrases when you speak Italian, you will definitely make a good impression. In other words, you will impress everybody, even Shan...

Even Shan.... - I can't pronounce this name!

Shania Twain. Even Shania... Shania Twain. Even Shania Twain!

Why do I say that? Because these idiomatic phrases are typically used only by Italian native speakers. So, if you use them, you'll show that you know the Italian language very well.

But let's not waste time and let's jump straight into the first phrase!

Round one

The first Italian idiom I would like to explain is: "alzare le spalle".

"Alzare le spalle" essentially means doing this movement. Obviously, there are different ways to do this. Some people do something like this. Some people do this.

Well, I don't know, I find it kind of difficult to do this alone, staring at my phone. Anyways, I'm sure you understood what movement I'm referring to.

This is done for different reasons and to mean slightly different things.

In some cases, it is done to show indifference or carelessness, that is, the fact that the person doesn't care.

But this gesture may also mean that this person doesn't feel like doing something, or that nothing can be done in a given case.

An example could be: "Quando le ho detto questa cosa, ha alzato le spalle".

What does it mean? It means that she did this. She did this gesture, she shrugged (her shoulders). In this specific case, the person quite possibly shrugged (their shoulders) to show that they didn't care. This person shrugged because they didn't care about this thing.

This idiom has two alternative versions.

Some people say "fare spallucce". "Spallucce" is diminutive of "spalle". So the phrase is: "fare spallucce". Instead of the verb "alzare", we use the verb "fare". The meaning is the same.

In addition, other people say: "stringersi nelle spalle".

In my opinion, the most common phrase is undoubtedly "alzare le spalle".

Let's move on to the next idiom!

Round two

The second idiomatic phrase I would like to explain is: "avere le spalle robuste".

An example sentence could be: "Non preoccuparti, Marco ha le spalle robuste. Vedrai che se la caverà anche questa volta".

What does the phrase "avere le spalle robuste" mean? It means being able to endure inconvenience and hardship. Or, in theory, in certain cases, it may also mean being able to carry the weight of heavy responsibilities.

In the example I gave you, this person, Marco, is in a difficult situation, but the speakers says that there's no need to worry, because in any case Marco will manage to overcome this difficult situation.

Why? Because he has broad shoulders and so he can bear any discomfort and overcome any trouble.

Let's move on to the next phrase!

Round three

The third Italian idiom I would like to explain in fact is... is quite similar to the previous one and is: "avere le spalle larghe".

The difference compared to "avere le spalle robuste" is that the phrase "avere le spalle larghe" is typically used in reference to someone's ability to cope with attacks or criticism.

An example sentence could be: "Non credo che queste critiche saranno un problema per Federico. Ha le spalle larghe".

What does it mean? Even though Federico gets attacked, this is not a problem, because in any case Federico can defend himself or in any case Federico can cope with certain attacks.

Let's move on to the next idiom!

Round four

The fourth idiomatic phrase I would like to explain is: "avere una famiglia sulle spalle".

An example sentence could be: "Elisa non può fare quello che vuole. Ha una famiglia sulle spalle".

What does it mean? It means that che Elisa must support a family and provide for it. That is: in case her family has some problems, Elisa must solve them.

In theory, this phrase can also be used in reference to a different type of responsibility. And I could say, for example: "Elisa ha una grave responsabilità sulle spalle".

Alright! Let's move on to the next phrase!

Round five

Actually, the fifth phrase is not an idiomatic phrase in the strictest sense, because it has a literal meaning. The phrase is: "portare or trasportare qualcosa sulle spalle".

An example sentence could be: "I soldati hanno trasportato i pezzi di artiglieria sulle spalle".

This phrase doesn't have a figurative meaning and it precisely means carrying something on one's shoulder, that is, placing it on one's shoulders. In this example, the soldiers placed the artillery pieces on their shoulders.

In this case you could also say "a spalla". That is, instead of "sulle spalle", you can say "a spalla". For example, I could say: "I soldati hanno trasportato i pezzi di artiglieria a spalla". What does the phrase "a spalla" mean? It means: on one's shoulders.

Alright, let's move on to the next idiomatic phrase!

Round six

The sixth idiom I would like to explain is: "prendersi qualcosa sulle spalle".

This idiom literally means taking something and placing it on one's shoulders.

Figuratively, it means assuming responsibility for something, that is, taking upon onself the responsibility for something.

An example sentence could be: "Quando hai accettato quel lavoro, ti sei preso una grossa responsabilità sulle spalle".

But let's move on to the next idiom!

Round seven

The seventh phrase I would like to explain is: "avere molti anni sulle spalle".

An example sentence could be: "Ormai ho molti anni sulle spalle, non sono più un ragazzino".

What does "avere molti anni sulle spalle" mean? It means being old or very old. This idiomatic phrase is quite clear and doesn't need to be explained.

Let's move on to the next phrase!

Round eight

The eight Italian idiom is: "vivere alle spalle di qualcuno".

What does the phrase "vivere alle spalle di qualcuno" mean? It means getting a living from someone else, that is, at their expense.

For example, if I say "Martina vive alle spalle di Giacomo", what does it mean? Martina gets a living at Giacomo's expense, that is, Giacomo essentially pays for everything.

This idiomatic phrase also has a more colloquial version, which is: "campare alle spalle di qualcuno".

"Campare" is an informal, colloquial, everyday version of the verb "vivere". So the meaning is the same.

So I could say, for example: "Martina campa alle spalle di Giacomo".

Alright! Let's move on to the ninth phrase!

Round nine

The ninth Italian idiom is: "voltare le spalle a qualcuno".

An example sentence could be: "Dopo tutto quello che ho fatto per lei, quando ho avuto bisogno, mi ha voltato le spalle".

What does the phrase "voltare le spalle a qualcuno" mean? It means turning one's back on someone, that is, turning around right? We turn around and this person sees our back.

Why do we turn around and turn our back on them? Because we are going away or we just don't care.

Alright! Let's move on to the tenth idiomatic phrase!

10.

The tenth idiom I would like to explain is: "voltare le spalle alla fortuna".

Let's jump straight into an example!

"Quella proposta secondo me era un'occasione da non perdere, ma Giovanni ha deciso di voltare le spalle alla fortuna".

What does "voltare le spalle alla fortuna" mean? It means passing up a good opportunity, missing out, missing an opportunity.

In other words: luck, or fate, offer us this opportunity, this chance, and what do we do? We ignore such possibility, that is, we turn our back on it, we turn around.

Alright! Let's move on to the eleventh phrase!

11.

The eleventh Italian idiom is: "dare le spalle a qualcuno".

This phrase is incredibly easy to explain. "Dare le spalle" essentially means standing with one's back to someone.

That is, if in a given moment "sto dando le spalle" to someone, it means that I'm standing with my back to them. That is, this person sees my back. This person doesn't see my face, they see my back.

Please note that this phrase refers to a state of being, meaning that, in a given moment, someone is standing with their back to someone else. It doesn't refer to the movement, it doesn't refer to turning around, to turning one's back.

So, if I mean the movement, the gesture, I shouldn't say "Le ho dato le spalle", but I should say "Le ho voltato le spalle".

Alright! Let's move on to the twelfth phrase!

12.

The twelfth idiom is: "mettere qualcuno con le spalle al muro".

And please note that the phrase is not "mettere le spalle di qualcuno al muro", but: "mettere qualcuno con le spalle al muro".

An example sentence could be: "Quando l'hanno messo con le spalle al muro, ha accettato". Or: "Ho messo Roberto con le spalle al muro e ha accettato".

What does this idiom mean?

Literally, "mettere qualcuno con le spalle al muro" means pushing someone to the wall. That is: behind there's the wall, this person has a wall behind and so this person can't escape. Why can't they run away? Because there's a wall right behind them.

Figuratively, this phrase means putting someone in a situation from which they can't run away. And this phrase usually means forcing someone to take their own responsibilities. We push this person to the wall and this person can no longer escape their responsibilities.

Alright! Let's move on to the thirteenth idiom!

13.

The thirteenth idiomatic phrase is: "lasciarsi qualcosa alle spalle".

An example sentence could be: "Secondo me non dovresti pensare alla tua ex. Secondo me dovresti lasciarti la tua ex alle spalle".

Sorry - wrong intonation!

"Secondo me dovresti lasciarti la tua ex alle spalle".

I'm gonna give you another example: "Non parliamo più di quell'incidente! Lasciamocelo alle spalle!"

What does "lasciarsi qualcosa alle spalle" mean? It means stop thinking about something, forgetting something, or in any case stop worrying about something.

I gave you an example with the ex. If someone "si lascia la propria ex alle spalle", it means that they no longer think about her, they forget her, or in any case the thought of their ex stops being important.

Similarly, I gave you an example about an accident. The example was: "Lasciamocelo alle spalle!". If some people "si lasciano alle spalle un incidente", it means that they stop thinking about it.

Why do people say that? Because the imagery is this: we move on in our life, that thing stays behind, behind our back, that is behind us. It's no longer in front of us: it's behind. We have moved on and this thing has been left behind.

This phrase has two alternative versions.

Some people say "buttarsi qualcosa alle spalle", other people say "gettarsi qualcosa alle spalle".

The meaning is clearly the same. The imagery is slightly different, though.

Because, if I "mi getto qualcosa alle spalle", it means that I take this thing and throw it over my shoulder.

Similarly, if I "mi butto qualcosa alle spalle", it means that I take something and throw it behind me.

Instead, if I say "Mi lascio questa cosa alle spalle", it means that I move forward, I move on, and this thing stays behind.

I for one prefer the version with the verb "lasciarsi".

Anyways, let's move on to the fourteenth idiom!

14.

The fourteenth idiomatic phrase is: "parlare male alle spalle di qualcuno".

What does it mean? It means talking bad about someone when this person is not there or can't hear.

You can say "parlare male di qualcuno", or also "sparlare di qualcuno".

I don't know if you know the verb "sparlare". Well, "sparlare" means talking bad. So, if I use the verb "sparlare", the phrase is gonna be: "sparlare alle spalle di qualcuno".

Additionally, you can also say "ridere alle spalle di qualcuno". The meaning is similar, that is: laughing at someone when this person is not there or can't hear.

Alright! Let's move on to the next phrase!

15.

The fifteenth idiom with the word "spalle" is: "prendere qualcuno alle spalle".

What does "prendere qualcuno alle spalle" mean? It means  taking this person by surprise, approaching them from behind. We take this person by surprise because this person cannot see us, right? The person doesn't see us, we get closer and take them by surprise.

This phrase can also be used, for example, in reference to armies, right? An army tries to hit the enemy army from behind.

Alright! Let's move on to the next phrase!

16.

The sixteenth idiom I would like to explain is: "guardarsi le spalle".

This phrase is very easy to explain. Literally, "guardarsi le spalle" means doing this. That is, looking over one's shoulder. Figuratively, it means watching out.

You will often hear this phrase used as a call. For example: "Guardati le spalle!". What does it mean? It means: watch out and remember that dangers may also come from behind.

Alright, let's move on to the last phrase!

Final round

Lastly, I would like to explain a bonus phrase, which doesn't actually include the word "spalle", but the singular form "spalla".

The idiom is: "fare da spalla a qualcuno".

This phrase comes from the theatre. In theatrical plays, "la spalla" essentially is a character who supports the main comedian and give the latter a chance to tell something funny. That is, "la spalla" will say something, and this is said to allow the comedian to tell something witty and funny.

In everyday speech, instead, "fare da spalla a qualcuno" means supporting this person and helping them accomplish a given endeavor, or do something. Basically, "la spalla" is a person who helps or supports another person.

The endeavor may be unlawful or illegal, but that not necessarily: it may also be something 100% legal.

So, if I tell a friend of mine "Fammi da spalla!", what does it mean? It means: help me do this thing. That is: I'll be the one doing it, but help me.

Well, I hope that you liked these Italian idioms!

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