“Nato con la camicia”, born with the shirt on. Italian idioms

Nato con la camicia, literally “born with the shirt on”, is an Italian idiom. Do you now the meaning? Listen and repeat.

Today we are going to learn some Italian idioms and proverbs on clothesย and accessories. Read and listen to the correct pronunciation, repeat. Are you ready? Siete pronti?

Nato con la camicia

When someone is often lucky, we say he or she was born with a shirt on.

Luciano ha vinto alla lotteria, รจ nato con la camicia!

 

 

Essere “culo e camicia”

When two people are always together, like “ass and shirt” (joined at the hip).

Quei due stanno sempre insieme, sono come culo e camicia.

 

Fare le scarpe (a qualcuno)

“Make the shoes” for someone. To plot against someone, usually at work.

Hanno licenziato il mio capo. Qualcuno gli ha fatto le scarpe.

 

Rimanere in mutande

Only in your underwear, without money.

Dopo avere perso il lavoro, Claudio รจ rimasto in mutande.

 

Portare i pantaloni

“Wearing trousers”, to be the headย of the family. To be in charge

Maria porta i pantaloni, suo marito non dice mai niente.

 

 

L’abito non fa il monaco

Dressing like a monk, does’t make you a monk. Appearances are deceiving.

 

Attaccare bottone

Sewing a button, it means “to strike a conversation”.

Federico รจ molto estroverso, attacca bottone con tutti.

 

 

Appendere le scarpe al chiodo

To hang up your boots, to quit.

Ho lavorato per tutta la vita. Adesso รจ ora di appendere le scarpe al chiodo.

 

 

Essere una mezza calzetta

To be a “half sock”, a worthless person,ย lacking personality or ability.

Sei proprio una mezza calzetta!

 

Sudare sette camicie

To “sweat seven shirts”, to do something difficult, requiring a lot of effort.

Abbiamo sudato sette camicie per dipingere casa.

 

 

Painting: Tiziano – Ritratto di Francesco I di Francia (1538)

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Riccardo
Milanese, graduated in Italian literature a long time ago, I began teaching Italian online in Japan back in 2003. I usually spend winter in Tokyo and go back to Italy when the cherry blossoms shed their petals. I do not use social media.

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Tricia Tancredi
Tricia Tancredi
6 years ago

Grazie mille. Mi sono piaciuti tutti questi idiomi!

Don`t copy text!