Sayings - modi di dire

[onetwothreegood]

Hey everybody.

When i want to translate an english quote into italian, do you just need to learn them in italian, as i have noticed you say "sogni d'oro" where in english you would say 'sweet dreams' instead or something along those lines.

So is saying sweet dreams in italian non existant?

Also i read somewhere on here you wouldnt call someone 'dolce cuore'!

So the qeustion is... is it always best to learn sayings in italian instead of translating them directly from english?

 

[Alfry]

that's right!!
the same is for English sayings!!

you say:
if I was in your shoes = "se fossi nelle tue scarpe", Italians would never say that!

we say "se fossi nei tuoi panni" = "if I was in your clothes"

maybe both of us would understand what we was trying to translate but none of us would have said that way!!!

 

[onetwothreegood]

oh really.

You learn something every day!

Do you know of a web site where i can find such things like that or will i have to learn them over time as i come across them?

 

[Alfry]

Sincerelly I don't know and more sincerelly I'd love to know that too.

Maybe someone else can help us!!!

let's seat and wait!!!!

 

[Silvia]

I guess there must be books about Italian/English idioms/expressions/sayings... personally, I'd prefer to learn over time, isn't that the good part about learning?

And anyway, you've just started a thread about this, so let's take advantage of it!

 

[Alfry]

I guess there must be books about Italian/English idioms/expressions/sayings... personally, I'd prefer to learn over time, isn't that the good part about learning?

And anyway, you've just started a thread about this, so let's take advantage of it!

I utterly agree.
let's use this thread to all possible sayings.

who's going to start?

 

[DDT]

Hey everybody.

When i want to translate an english quote into italian, do you just need to learn them in italian, as i have noticed you say "sogni d'oro" where in english you would say 'sweet dreams' instead or something along those lines.

So is saying sweet dreams in italian non existant?

Also i read somewhere on here you wouldnt call someone 'dolce cuore'!

So the qeustion is... is it always best to learn sayings in italian instead of translating them directly from english?

"Sweet dreams" doesn't make sense litteraly. "Dolce cuore" ("sweetheart" I argue) neither, it can be rendered as "tesoro" or simply "amore"

DDT

 

[onetwothreegood]

I guess there must be books about Italian/English idioms/expressions/sayings... personally, I'd prefer to learn over time, isn't that the good part about learning?

And anyway, you've just started a thread about this, so let's take advantage of it!

learning slowly is good. nothing like the feeling you get when you learn something new in a different language to your own.

 

[lsp]

Chi fa da sè, fa per tre

...means what exactly?

Should we all add some expression/s we know?

Like the English expression "Knock wood" or "knock on wood" for luck = the Italian expression "Tocca ferro (touch iron)."

 

[Alfry]

learning slowly is good. nothing like the feeling you get when you learn something new in a different language to your own.

well this can be discussed...
what about a big dish full of spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino?

 

[Silvia]

Chi fa da sè, fa per tre = (literally) he who does (things) on his own, he does for three (people) it means:

If you do something by yourself, you can do what 3 people could do!

It should correspond to the English:
If you want a thing (well) done, do it yourself

 

[leenico]

I utterly agree.
let's use this thread to all possible sayings.
who's going to start?

I don't mind starting. Here's a few.

A buon intenditor poche parole.
A word to the wise is sufficient.

A caval donato non si guarda in bocca.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

A chi dai il dito si prende anche il braccio.
Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

 

[Merlino]

Hey, I like this topic I'll throw in a few too:

Paesi che vai, usanza che trovi
When in Rome, do as the Romans do

Meglio tardi che mai
Better late than never

Ride bene chi ride l'ultimo
He who laughs last laughs best

 

[lsp]

Quando il gatto manca, i topi ballano. (When the cat is missing, the mice dance.)
When the cat's away, the mice will play.

L'abito non fa il monaco. (The habit doesn't make a monk.)
Clothes don't make the man.
or
You can't tell a book by it's cover

There's one that goes something like
"l'erba del vicino è sempre più verde"?

In English we say,
The grass is always greener on the other side.

 

[Silvia]

Chi va con lo zoppo impara a zoppicare
He that dwells next door to a cripple will learn to halt

Piove sempre sul bagnato
It never rains but it pours

Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Moglie e buoi dei paesi tuoi (un po' fuori moda/a little oldfashioned)
Better wed over the mixen than over the moor

Fra/tra moglie e marito non metter il dito
Never interfere between wife and husband

Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino
Curiosity killed the cat

Lasciar stare il can che dorme
Let sleeping dogs lie

Can che abbaia non morde
Barking dogs seldom bite or his bark is worse than his bite

Chi dorme non piglia pesci
The early bird catches the worm

Campa cavallo che l'erba cresce
While grass grows the horse starves

Campa cavallo!
That'll be the day!

Tutte le strade portano a Roma
All roads lead to Rome

Chi lascia la strada vecchia per la nuova sa quel che lascia, ma non sa quel che trova
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know

Il diavolo fa le pentole ma non i coperchi
Truth will out

Saperne una più del diavolo
To give points to the devil

Parli del diavolo e spuntano le corna
(For this one I don't know the English version, it's when you're talking of someone and, all of a sudden, he/she shows up) Speaking of the devil...

Prendere due piccioni con una fava
To kill two birds with one stone

 

[Graziella]

"Il silenzo è d'oro e la parola è d'argento"

"Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare"

Chi lo puo tradurre? Baci

 

[Alfry]

I wasn't hanging around...
my contribution:
non si ruba a casa del ladro = there's honour amond thieves
a chi vuole non mancano i modi = where there is a will there is a way
Aiutati che dio ti aiuta = God helps thosewho help themselves
un amico si vede nel momento del bisogno = a friend in need is a friend indeed
tra il dire ed il fare c'è di mezzo il mare = easier said than done
a mali estremi estremi rimedi = desperatediseases must have desperate remedies
Ambasciator non porta pena = messengers should neither be headed nor hanged

a tutto c'è rimedio fuorchè alla morte (finchè c'è vita c'è speranza)= while there's life, there's hope

"Il silenzo è d'oro e la parola è d'argento"

"Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare" = easier said than done

Chi lo puo tradurre? Baci

I don't know "Il silenzo è d'oro e la parola è d'argento"

 

[onetwothreegood]

supposed to be 'silence is golden and words are silver' i presume.

although, i'v never heard the second half. i'v only known 'silence is golden'

 

[Alfry]

well done.

neither have I!!! only "il silenzio è d'oro" that is, a polite way to say "shut up"


a second flood of sayings


bacco tabacco e venere riducono l'uomo in cenere = gaming women and wine, while they laugh they make men pine (but what are you living for without? my opinion )

batti il ferro finchè è caldo = strike while the iron is hot

buon sangue non mente = blood will tell

chi ben comincia è a metà dell'opera = well begun is half done

chi cerca trova = nothing seek nothing find

chi di spada ferisce di spada perisce = he that strikes with the sword, shall be striken

with the scabbard

chi dorme non piglia pesci = the early bird catches the worm

chi è causa del suo mal pianga se stesso = as you make your bed, so you must lie on it


chi ha avuto ha avuto e chi ha dato ha dato = let bygones be bygones

chiodo scaccia chiodo = one nail drives out another

can che abbaia non morde = his bark is worse than his bite

il buon vino fa buon sangue = good wine engendreth good blood

campa cavallo che l'erba cresce = while grass grows the horse starves

 

[onetwothreegood]

La gente in case di vetro non dovrebbe gettare le pietre??? (i didnt write this one so don't know if its right or not)
Una volta un ladro sempre un ladro

 

[Alfry]

"Il silenzo è d'oro e la parola è d'argento"

i got it

silence is golden, speech is silvern

 

[Silvia]

Alfry hai ripetuto i proverbi che avevo già scritto... ahi ahi ahi

Hai voluto la bicicletta? Pedala!
Did you ask for a bike? Then ride it! (this one can be used on several occasions, the other native Italians could supply you with some examples)

Non c'è due senza tre
Misfortunes never come singly

Alfry, qualche commento, se mi permetti.

non si ruba a casa del ladro (this is not very used)
there's honour among thieves

a chi vuole non mancano i modi (almost never heard)
Basta la volontà o volere è potere
where there is a will there is a way

Aiutati che Dio t'aiuta o Aiutati che il ciel t'aiuta
(I guess it comes from the very oldfashioned "Cuor contento il ciel l'aiuta")
God helps thosewho help themselves

un amico si vede nel momento del bisogno
(I would say) gli amici si vedono nel momento del bisogno
a friend in need is a friend indeed

Cielo a pecorelle, acqua a catinelle
I guess there's no saying in English, it means: mackerel sky, heavy rains

Rosso di sera, bel tempo si spera
Red sky at night, shepherd's delight

Non stare né in cielo né in terra (for something unreal/madness)
To have neither rhyme nor reason

 

[Alfry]

Alfry hai ripetuto i proverbi che avevo già scritto... ahi ahi ahi

è che li ho scritti su un txt e li sto anche ordinando, correggendo... poi ovviamente non ricordo più cosa ho scritto e cerco di fare i puzzle, poi mi stufo e copio e incollo indiscriminatamente.

sono programmato per fare al massimo una cosa per volta...
pardon

 

[Silvia]

Chi rompe paga e i cocci sono suoi
You've made your bed, now you must lie on it

 

[lsp]

What's the one about cesare that eqautes to the English, Credit where credit is due?

 

[walnut]

I don't remember the exact words... 'Date a Cesare quel che è di Cesare'?
I couldn't swear about, but hope it helps! Ciao, Walnut

 

[lsp]

That's the one, thanks! So I'll leave another...

Finchè c'è vita c'è speranza
Where there's life there's hope

 

[Silvia]

Dare a Cesare quel che è di Cesare
Credit where credit is due

Avere la coda di paglia
To have a guilty conscience

Tirar(e) l'acqua al proprio mulino
To bring grist to one's mill, to have an axe to grind

 

[lsp]

This is fun.

Un punto in tempo ne risparmia cento warn: unheard of )
A stitch in time saves nine

 

[DDT]

can you tell me why? i mean if you were saying a house is white, you would put 'casa bianca' but why wouldnt you say 'un gioco buon' when saying a game is good?

As soon as you find an Italian word not ending by a vowel, that means that's a particular use. This case, for instance - as for "bello" which becomes "bel" in such an expression as "un bel gioco dura poco" ("don't carry the joke too far") - the adjective cannot but preceding the noun because generally you can't have an Italian sentence not ending by a vowel, moreover it would sound odd! That's not a grammar rule, but I hope it might help you to understand

DDT

 

[DDT]

Did anyone already mention "rough play is low"? That corresponds to the Italian "gioco di mano, gioco di villano"

DDT

 

[onetwothreegood]

Ah thank you DDT!


My italian grammer book is designed for people who already know italian at university level, so i'm a little slow at reading it as it starts explaining noun genders in italian right at the start. which is good, seeing as i know a little bit, i know a lot more now.

 

[Alfry]

Et voilà!!! Scoperta in finis l'identità segreta del sedicente membro "alfry" aka "Alfredo": SEI UN COMPUTER!!!?!

DDT

argh......
sono un registratore di cassa
mi avete beccato

 

[Silvia]

Tempo al tempo
All in good time
Let things take their course
Don't rush it

 

[lsp]

Paese che vai, usanza che trovi!
When in Rome, do as the Romans do! DDT

Couldn't resist grabbing this from the zucchini/sweetest thread for our collection!

 

[paolorausch]

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Italian_proverbs

There is a huge page with these already, go ahead and add some of your own! Wikipedia allows for anyone to make changes. They have these in several languages, and I think the addition of these would do well!

 

[Silvia]

Paolo, why don't you do that instead of urging people to do that?! Io sono già abbastanza presa col mio lavoro qui Grazie!

P.S.: L'intento non è quello di copiare da altri siti, ma di avere un archivio nostro, molto più ampio e corretto, inoltre ho notato che quella lista che hai fornito contiene anche dei proverbi dialettali, non credo faccia al caso nostro. Infine, la lista che stavamo cercando di stilare contiene non solo proverbi, ma anche modi di dire e frasi idiomatiche, credo che questo progetto possa avere ulteriori sviluppi con l'anno nuovo... ma non voglio anticipare nulla per ora.

Ciao e buon divertimento!

 

[Alfry]

"to put the cart before the horse" = "mettere il carro davanti ai buoi"

'to be at the fruit course' = 'essere alla frutta'

 

[Merlino]

il buo che dice cornuto all'asino - "The pot calling the kettle black"

Is there a shorter version of "La gatta frettolosa fece i gattini ciechi." (haste makes waste)? f.e. in Dutch this translates into "haastige spoed is zelden goed," but we usually only say "haastige spoed..."

 

[Alfry]

il buo che dice cornuto all'asino - "The pot calling the kettle black"

Is there a shorter version of "La gatta frettolosa fece i gattini ciechi." (haste makes waste)? f.e. in Dutch this translates into "haastige spoed is zelden goed," but we usually only say "haastige spoed..."

we say 'bue'
in Italian there is not a shorter version, I think

 

[perusa69]

why dont you try this site: http://www.kocher.pro.br/italo/italo_e.htm

i am new on this thing but what you want to learn is call proverbi/sayings italiani;
thay are alphabetically highlited easy to learn. they do not have the translation in english as i noticed you have a vast understanding of the italian leanguage. this will help you lots to learn the language you want.

buona fortuna

 

[lsp]

An excellent list, to be sure perusa69, but I don't think we seek only a list of proverbs, nor do we want only to translate the words or the meanings. We often wish also to know if an equivalent idiomatic expression exists in the other language.

 

[Alfry]

thanks Perusa69,
but the goal of this thread and of whatever whould come from it is a database (or similar) that we can use and improve.
as a result we can learn them while we deal with them.

 

[Silvia]

i am new on this thing but what you want to learn is call proverbi/sayings italiani;
thay are alphabetically highlited easy to learn. this will help you lots to learn the language you want.

I had a look at the first page and I can tell you I've never heard anyone of the sayings mentioned there. I believe those sayings come from Brasil, or they have been translated from some other foreign language. Anyway they are not part of everyday speech. So I'm not sure what use you could make of them. I'm sure you can learn some Italian through them, but on the other hand I noticed there are some mistakes...
per farla breve, se sei realmente intenzionata ad imparare l'italiano, fai attenzione ad affidare tale responsabilità ad un sito web straniero.

 

[3andone]

My Italian mother in law had a favorite saying that I want to write on my livingroom wall. I failed to have her write it down for me before she passed away. Any help would be great!
In english it is :
Because I have been given much, I too must give.
Seems like in Italian it is heaven given.
anyway, thanks in advance!

 

[miri]

Some more:
Fra i due litiganti il terzo gode= two dogs strive for a bone and a third runs away with it
E' l'ultima goccia che fa traboccare il vaso= the last drop makes the cup run over
E' inutile piangere sul latte versato= it's no use crying over spilt milk
Ferisce più la lingua che la spada= words cut more than swords
Mani fredde, cuore caldo= a cold hand and a warm heart
Il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio= can the leopard change its spots? (I like this one!)
Il sangue non è acqua= blood is thicker than water
Meglio poco che niente= half a loaf is better than no bread

 

[astridula]

hmm what about

un gioco rapido è un buon gioco

Would it be better 'un buon gioco' or 'un gioco buon'?

I know this version:

Un bel gioco dura poco.

something like: a good game lasts little.

 

[Manuela]

Hi I got these 2

sono tra l'incudine e il martello = I'm between a rock and a hard place
la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso = the straw that broke the camel's back

I'm thinking..I'm thinking..

Ha le mani bucate= (the money is burning) a hole in his pocket

Una mano lava l'altra e tutte due la faccia = one hand washes the other, but both wash the face.
me ne lavo le mani= I want nothing to do with it
Non fare il passo piu` lungo della gamba= don't bite more than you can chew
OPPURE
Bisogna fare il passo secondo la lunghezza della gamba per non strappare i pantaloni= If your step matches your legs you won't split your pants

 

[Panpan]

Parli del diavolo e spuntano le corna
(For this one I don't know the English version, it's when you're talking of someone and, all of a sudden, he/she shows up) Speaking of the devil...

Talk of the devil, and he's at your elbow.

Panpan

 

[mimitabby]

Volere e' Potere

If you want something badly enough, you can do it...