Learn These 4 Italian Idioms!

In this video I'm going to explain four Italian idioms which in my opinion are very useful. If you wish to speak Italian naturally, it's essential that you know many idiomatic phrases.

In this video we will review four very common idioms that you can use when you speak Italian. If you use them, everybody will be impressed, even those like Shania Twain! You know, right? those people who are always indifferent and aren't impressed by anything.

So buckle up your seatbelt and prepare to fly to the realm of advanced Italian!

Round one

The first idiomatic phrase I would like to explain is: "rendere pan per focaccia".

Specifically, the phrase is: "rendere pan per focaccia a qualcuno". If you want to use this phrase, you should specify - to whom -.

"Rendere pan per focaccia" essentially means paying back an offense, wrongdoing or damage with an equivalent or greater offense, wrongdoing or damage. In other words, it means getting even.

I'm going to give you an example right away!

"Quando Lucia ha scoperto che il marito l'aveva tradita, gli ha reso pan per focaccia e l'ha tradito".

Please note that the past participle of the verb "rendere" is "reso".

What does this sentence mean?

Lucia's husband cheated on her. Then Lucia, to get even, did the same thing and cheated on her husband.

I don't know if you know the idiomatic phrase "ripagare con la stessa moneta". You can say "ripagare con la stessa moneta" or "ripagare colla stessa moneta". It's the same.

What does it mean? It essentially means harming someone the same way this person has harmed us. That is, if someone harms me in a certain way and I "ripago con la stessa moneta", it means that I harm them the same way.

Well, "rendere pan per focaccia" has a similar meaning. That is: you have done this to me, and I'll do the same to you.

But let's see the second phrase!

Round two

The second Italian idiom I would like to explain is: "non stare nella pelle".

Obviously, this is the infinitive mood. It's not the imperative mood. "Non stare" is the infinitive mood.

What does it mean? It means waiting with eager anticipation. This phrase, in fact, is used to mean eagerly waiting for something pleasant, something which one is waiting with anticipation or, if you will, with anxiety (in the positive sense).

People say that because the person looks so impatient and nervous that they seem unable to control themselves. From the outside, it really seems that this individual will suddenly get out of their skin.

An example could be this: "La sera di Natale, mentre aspettavano di aprire i regali, i bambini non stavano più nella pelle".

Well, I gave you an example about Christmas Eve, right? The kids would like to open their presents right away, but they can't, they must wait. So they are impatient.

I don't know if you know the idiom "non vedere l'ora". Specifically, "non vedere l'ora di fare qualcosa". Well, the phrases "non vedere l'ora" and "non stare nella pelle" are quite similar.

Anyway, let's move on to the third phrase!

Round three

The third idiomatic phrase I would like to explain is: "perdersi d'animo".

What does "perdersi d'animo" mean? It means getting discouraged, losing hope and/or the will to fight. If someone "si perde d'animo", it means that this person loses their enthusiasm and desire to do things.

I don't know if you know the pronominal verb "abbattersi". Well, someone who "si perde d'animo" is someone who "si abbatte". At first, this person was very motivated and full of enthusiasm, then they lose their enthusiasm and "si abbatte".

We can say "si abbatte" or we can say "si perde d'animo".

An example sentence could be this: "Giovanni ha mandato più di duemila curricula e non l'ha chiamato nessuno. Alla fine si è perso d'animo".

What does it mean? Giovanni lost his initial enthusiasm - and hope, if you will. In any case Giovanni got disheartened and he likely stopped submitting his cv.

Another example could be this: "Daniele passava tre ore al giorno sui siti di incontri, ma non gli rispondeva nessuno. Alla fine si è perso d'animo e ha lasciato perdere".

What does it mean? In the end he lost his enthusiasm and hope and stopped doing this.

You will often hear this idiom in a word of encouragement. For example: "Su, non perderti d'animo!" Or: "Dai, non perderti d'animo!"

If someone sees that you are starting to feel disheartened they could tell you: "Su, non perderti d'animo!" What does it mean? Come on! Keep on fighting, don't give up, don't get discouraged!

There's also another informal phrase which by and large means the same thing: "buttarsi giù".

What does "buttarsi giù" mean? It means getting disheartened. Someone could tell you: "Dai, non buttarti giù!" What does it mean? Come on, keep on fighting, don't give up, don't get discouraged!

Anyway, going back to the phrase "perdersi d'animo", please note that the verb is "perdersi", not "perdere". So it's a reflexive verb. Hence its forms are: "io mi perdo d'animo", "tu ti perdi d'animo", "lui oppure lei si perde d'animo", "noi ci perdiamo d'animo", "voi vi perdete d'animo" and "loro si perdono d'animo".

In the passato prossimo we should use "essere" as auxiliary verb. So I should say: "mi sono perso d'animo". Instead, with a feminine subject, I should say, for example: "Laura si è persa d'animo".

But let's move on to the fourth idiom!

Round four

The fourth idiomatic phrase I would like to explain is: "chiarirsi le idee". Or: "schiarirsi le idee". You can use the verb "chiarirsi" or the verb "schiarirsi". Some Italians say "chiarirsi le idee", other Italians say "schiarirsi le idee".

What does it mean?

It means pondering in order to clear one's mind of doubts or uncertainties, or in general to understand things better.

An example sentence could be this: "Non posso darti una risposta subito, ci devo pensare. Ho bisogno di tempo per chiarirmi le idee".

What does it mean? I need time to ponder, better understand the situation and make a decision.

Another example could be this: "Quando ho bisogno di chiarirmi le idee, mi piace uscire e fare una passeggiata. Camminare mi aiuta a pensare e a chiarirmi le idee".

Another example sentence could be this: "Secondo alcuni, mettere per iscritto i propri pensieri aiuta a chiarirsi le idee".

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"Pendere dalle labbra di qualcuno".

What does it mean? It means listening to someone with great attention and interest, or eagerly waiting for the words of this individual.

An example could be this: "Quando il nonno raccontava delle storie, i bambini pendevano dalle sue labbra".

What does it mean? The kids listened to their grandpa with great interest.

This phrase is based on very clear imagery. "Pendere dalle labbra di qualcuno" means hanging by a thread connected to the lips of this person, that is, to their words, to what they say.

Well, I hope that you liked these four Italian idioms!

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In the mean time, up here I'm going to add a video that I would encourage you to watch. If you wish to speak Italian fluently, check it out!

And may the Force of the Italian language be with you!