volare basso

Silvia

Silvia

Senior Member
Italy
Italian
Qualcuno può aiutarmi a trovare il corrispondente inglese (se esiste) della frase idiomatica "volare basso"?

Grazie! :)
 
    • I was not thinking of a literal translation, I was only looking for a possible translation of this idiomatic expression.

    The nearest thing I can think of is: do not overdo. But volare basso is different from that.

    Vola basso or devi volare basso is something you could say to someone who's conceited, self-important, but most of all overconfident or maybe "too big for his boots", a presumptuous person.

    Any idea?
     
    silviap said:
    I was not thinking of a literal translation, I was only looking for a possible translation of this idiomatic expression.

    The nearest thing I can think of is: do not overdo. But volare basso is different from that.

    Vola basso or devi volare basso is something you could say to someone who's conceited, self-important, but most of all overconfident or maybe "too big for his boots", a presumptuous person.

    Any idea?
    Click to expand...
    I knew
    - Slow down
    - hold yourself back
     
    silviap said:
    You think, alfry?

    You might be right :)

    I'd like a confirmation from some native English speaker :D
    Click to expand...
    I think because maybe there is a precise saying corresponding to our "vola basso".

    Slow down is our "piano, rallenta"
    hold yourself back is our "trattieniti, sei troppo esuberante"
    ;) [just like me;)]
     
    I'd like a confirmation from some native English speaker
    Click to expand...
    Sometimes when you work for a large organization & there is a layoff pending someone might say "you better fly low for awhile". Meaning keep a low profile. Do not make yourself noticable. Don't bring attention to yourself or you might be the next one laid off. ;)
     
    Leenico, I've heard "lie low" rather than "fly low" in this context. Is this a regional thing?
     
    Leenico, I've heard "lie low" rather than "fly low" in this context. Is this a regional thing?
    Click to expand...
    I can't sasy that it is. I've heard both ways. Of course when your job is in jeopardy you're liable to say anything. We spoke about "I resolve" on another thread. Last night Barbara Walters was interviewing President Bush on 20-20 And one of his comments was "I resolve" etc. something about Tsunami. I can't remember exactly. So we say a lot of things, maybe not often, but when some people hear it they think it sounds strange. :D :p
     
    Could anyone explain what "keep a low profile" means? Not only in business, but in general.
    Click to expand...
    Yes. It means not to make yourself noticeable. Do not bring attention to yourself. I hope this explains it. If not let me know & I will try further. ;)
     
    Vola basso or devi volare basso is something you could say to someone who's conceited, self-important, but most of all overconfident or maybe "too big for his boots", a presumptuous person.
    Click to expand...
    I don't think that is what you would say to that type of person. He would be too conceited to pay heed to that kind of statement. The best you could do is to put him down w/ a strong comment. However be prepared for an argument. Someone like that, it is better to ignore. ;)
     
    Hmm, maybe you're right, that's not what someone might expect to hear. La verità può far male, but that's another matter. Also, I was not going to list all the above mentioned adjectives... the expression vola basso is meant as an exhortation.

    Perhaps I've found something that might fit: cut it down.

    What do the native English speakers think?
     
    silviap said:
    I was not thinking of a literal translation, I was only looking for a possible translation of this idiomatic expression.

    The nearest thing I can think of is: do not overdo. But volare basso is different from that.

    Vola basso or devi volare basso is something you could say to someone who's conceited, self-important, but most of all overconfident or maybe "too big for his boots", a presumptuous person.

    Any idea?
    Click to expand...
    cut down to size? But this you would say about the person "That egomaniac, I would love to watch him get cut down to size." To a person's face it is very aggressive.
     
    silviap said:
    Get cut down to size = ridimensionarsi?
    Click to expand...
    Yes, literally. I think it may have a figurative reference to all the size-related ways we describe someone who is getting a big ego: a person getting inflated, being all puffed up, being full of himself, and having a swelled head.
     
    lsp said:
    Yes, literally. I think it may have a figurative reference to all the size-related ways we describe someone who is getting a big ego: a person getting inflated, being all puffed up, being full of himself, and having a swelled head.
    Click to expand...

    here I am, tell me anything :D
     
    As an idiomatic expression, if you wish the person to be less conceited you could tell her: Get down a peg or two.
    Se poi, invece vuoi vendicarti di tale persona e dargli una lezione, dici: I´ll take her down a peg or two.
    That´s my suggestion
    Alenya
     
    Alenya said:
    As an idiomatic expression, if you wish the person to be less conceited you could tell her: Get down a peg or two.
    Click to expand...
    Very good! :thumbsup: Thank you, Alenya, I guess that's exactly what I was looking for!

    P.S.: non sono un tipo vendicativo.
     
    Personally, I'd say "come down off your high horse". You would say this expression to someone who felt self-important, or who was bragging about something and you wanted them to stop or calm down.

    For the peg expression, you can "take" someone down a peg or two", but you can't really tell someone to "get down a peg or two" . When you take someone down a peg or two, you don't warn them or ask them.
     
    Thanks for the correction and explanation - I really appreciated it. I loved the expression about the 'horse'; it goes straight to my list.

    Grazie mille per avere arricchito il mio vocabolario. (enriched my vocab.)

    Alenya
     
    volare basso
    my grandfather used to say something like "sbaglio voleva essere basso" my understanding was "that mistake could be humbling...." just a guess
    Alfredo
     
    TiffanyC said:
    Personally, I'd say "come down off your high horse". You would say this expression to someone who felt self-important, or who was bragging about something and you wanted them to stop or calm down.

    For the peg expression, you can "take" someone down a peg or two", but you can't really tell someone to "get down a peg or two" . When you take someone down a peg or two, you don't warn them or ask them.
    Click to expand...
    Thank you, Tiffany :)
    Actually, I knew that "come down off your high horse", sometimes I forget :D
    What's important is I found what I was looking for thanks to your help, so now I have two useful expressions ;)
     
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