Italian C1: Idioms · Grammar

Idioms rarely translate word for word: In bocca al lupo! (good luck; the answer is Crepi!), avere le mani bucate (to spend money like water), prendere un granchio (to make a blunder), non vedere l’ora (can’t wait), costare un occhio della testa (to cost an arm and a leg), essere al verde (to be broke), essere sulla stessa barca (to be in the same boat).

• in bocca al lupo — good luck
• crepi — thanks (the reply to “in bocca al lupo”)
• al verde — broke (out of money)
• il granchio — blunder (literally, crab)
• l' occhio — eye
• il lupo — wolf
• mani bucate — a spendthrift (literally, hands with holes)
• non vedere l'ora — can’t wait

• In bocca al lupo! — Crepi! — Good luck! — Thanks!
• Ha le mani bucate. — Money burns a hole in his pocket.
• Non vedo l'ora delle vacanze. — I can’t wait for the holidays.
• Siamo sulla stessa barca. — We’re in the same boat.