1 Parola del Giorno Words (1) (completo) Flashcards

Question

Abbaiare (verbo transitivo)

Answer 1

→ to bark Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb “abbaiare”, which means “to bark” or “to yap”. The verb can also be used when someone barks orders at you (abbaiare ordini), like a drill sergeant in the military or your boss at work! It can also mean to bay as in the expression: Abbaiare alla luna = to bay at the moon. a. Il cane dei vicini ha abbaiato tutta la notte, così si sono accorti dei ladri che stavano entrando in casa. → The neighbour’s dog barked all night, so they noticed some thieves were coming in the house.

Answer 2

→ a carriage, a cart Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun “il calesse”, which means “a carriage” or “a cart” (like those drawn by horses). a. Nel museo del Settecento che abbiamo visitato il mese scorso, c’era una mostra sui calessi che i nobili dell’epoca utilizzavano per spostarsi in città e in campagna. Alcuni erano talmente pieni di comfort da sembrare simili alle automobili di oggi! → In the museum dedicated to the 18th-century we visited last month, there was an exhibition on carriages nobles of the period used to use to move about the city or head out to the countryside. Some were so full of comforts that they seemed similar to today’s automobiles!

Answer 3

→ flights of fancy Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun expression “i voli pindarici”, which means “flights of fancy”. The expression is derived from the ancient Greek author, Pindar, whose poems changed often from one argument to the next! a. A volte è davvero difficile seguire le lezioni del mio professore di storia: fa molti voli pindarici, parla prima della Antica Grecia e un secondo dopo parla di Napoleone. Confonde noi studenti → Sometimes it is really difficult to follow my professor’s lessons: he takes many flights of fancy, first he will talk about Ancient Greece and a second later will talk about Napoleon. He confuses us students.

Answer 4

→ There’s terrible/foul weather out Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “esserci un tempo da lupi”. It is used with the verb “esserci (c’è)” and translates to “There’s terrible/foul weather out”. a. Il fine settimana scorso c’era un tempo da lupi: nevicava e tirava un vento incredibile. Ho preferito non uscire e starmene a casa al caldo! → Last weekend there was terrible weather out: it was snowing, and the wind was blowing hard. I preferred not to go out and stayed home in the heat!

Answer 5

→ to gobble up; to polish something off (food) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb “sbafare”, which means “to gobble up” or “to polish something off”, with reference to food! This verb is onomatopoeic; it has its roots in the sound one makes when gobbling up food. a. Non so come faccia Claudio! È riuscito a sbafare la cena ai suoi colleghi di lavoro con la scusa che aveva lasciato il portafoglio a casa. → I don’t now how Claudio does it! He can gobble up his dinner at his coworker’s place with the excuse that he had left his wallet at home.

Answer 6

→ a slob; a foul person Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun “lo zozzone”, which means “a slob” or “a foul person”. It can also be used to describe the moral qualities of a person and not just their cleanliness. This noun comes from the Roman dialect; you might also hear the word “il sozzone” in other parts of Italy. a. Quando ero piccolo e non mi volevo lavare le mani prima di mangiare, mia nonna mi diceva che ero uno zozzone e che le mani vanno sempre lavate. → When I was little and didn’t want to wash my hands before eating, my grandmother used to tell me that I was a slob and that my hands should always be washed.

Answer 7

→ to try one’s hardest; to try hard Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “mettercela tutta”, which means “to try one’s hardest” or “to try hard”. a. Andrea e Carla ce la misero tutta: si allenarono per dieci mesi intensamente e così riuscirono ad arrivare primi alla maratona. → Andrea and Carla tried their hardest: they trained intensely for ten months and thus were able to finish first in the marathon.

Answer 8

→ a guild Today's Parola del Giorno this week is the noun “la gilda”, which means “a guild”. Guilds played an important part in the economic and artistic development of Florence and many other medieval towns throughout Europe. Just look around the city and see all the wonderful works of art and sculpture that can be found on every corner. One of my favorite churches that demonstrates the power and patronage of the guilds is Orsanmichele. a. Un po' in tutta Europa, nel medioevo nacquero delle associazioni di lavoratori che avevano lo scopo di difendere i lavoratori stessi: in italiano, queste associazioni si chiamano gilde. Una gilda molto importante a Firenze era quella dell'Arte della lana. Forse non tutti sanno che le gilde fiorentine finanziarono molte opere d'arte che oggi abbelliscono la città. → All over Europe during the Middle Ages, associations of workers sprung up with the purpose of defending their workers: in Italian, these associations were called guilds. A very important guild in Florence was the wool guild. Perhaps not everyone is aware that the Florentine guilds financed many works of art that beautify the city today.

Answer 9

→ One swallow does not make a summer; one swallow does not a summer make Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression: “Una rondine non fa primavera”. This expression means “One swallow does not make a summer” (or “one swallow does not a summer make”). It literally means one swallow does not make Spring. It means that a single instance of something does not necessarily indicate a trend. In other words, just because one good thing has happened, it doesn't mean that other good things will necessarily follow. a. Anche se hai fatto bene l'ultimo test, sappi che una rondine non fa primavera. Per superare questo corso devi ancora studiare tanto! → Even if you did well on the last test, know that one swallow does not make a summer. In order to pass this course, you still have to study a lot!

Answer 10

→ a press conference Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun “la conferenza stampa”, which means “press conference”. Politicians and candidates running for office regularly give press conferences during the election season. As US politicians clamour over the debt ceiling, there have been frequent press conferences to update the public on efforts to stave off the default. As the election season ramps up in the United States, there are bound to be daily and weekly press conferences from a variety of candidates: a. La conferenza stampa del candidato alla presidenza era piena di sostenitori e giornalisti: tutti volevano fare una domanda al candidato, che è molto amato dalla gente. → The presidential candidate’s press conference was full of supporters and journalists: everyone wanted to ask the candidate, who is much loved by the people, a question.

Answer 11

→ a beach robe; a pareo Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun “il pareo”, which means “a beach robe” or “a pareo”. It is a style of dress typical of Tahiti and the Cook Islands. You will also see it worn Italy and in Western countries as a sort of robe that one might wear to cover a bathing suit while at the beach. If you need an image to help you, you can find un pareo for sale on Amazon. a. La ragazza uscì dall'acqua e andò verso l'ombrellone. Si annodò il pareo trasparente intorno ai fianchi e andò a comprarsi un gelato, perché era troppo caldo quel giorno al mare. → The woman got out of the water and went towards the umbrella. She tied the thin pareo around her hips and went to buy herself an ice cream, because it was too hot that day at the beach.

Answer 12

→ “here” (when you are giving something to someone); “look” (when you are looking at something) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the interjection “to’ “, which means “here” (when you are giving something to someone) or “look” (when you are looking at something). It is a truncation of the imperative command “togli” from the verb “togliere”. This is very colloquial and pretty common. a. To’, venti euro, esci e vai a cena con i tuoi amici! → Here, take 20 euro, head out and go to dinner with your friends!

Answer 13

→ a charger Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun “il caricatore”, which means “charger” (coming from the verb “caricar, which means “to charge”). It refers to any device that can charge a battery. a. La batteria di questi smartphone non dura niente. Devo attaccare il telefono al caricatore almeno due volte al giorno se non voglio che la batteria si scarichi completamente! → This smartphone's battery does not last at all. I have plug the phone into the charger at least two times a day if I don't want to the battery to be completely drained. These words below are a bit more specific and useful if you are shopping for these items while you are travelling. “Il caricatore” is a general word for “charger”. il cavo → charge cable l'alimentatore → adapter

Answer 14

→ to put one’s back into; to work really hard at something Today’s Parola del Giorno is the Pronominal Verb “darci dentro”, which means “to put one’s back into” - in other words, to work really hard at something. a. Anna è una tipa molto determinata. Quando deve impegnarsi, ci dà sempre dentro fino a che non raggiunge il suo obiettivo. La ammiro molto! → Anna is a very motivated woman. When she commits herself, she always puts her back into it until she reaches her goal. I admire her a lot!

Answer 15

→ to have a flat tire; to have a puncture Today's Parola del Giorno is the transitive verb, “forare”, which means “to have a flat tire” or “to have a puncture”. The past participle is “forato”. “Avere” is used in compound tenses. a. Mentre andava in macchina a Firenze, Rebecca, la cui macchina è proprio un rottame, ha forato tre volte. Presa dalla disperazione ha chiamato il meccanico che è giunto sul posto dopo ben due ore! → While driving to Florence, Rebecca, whose car is just a wreck, had a puncture three times. Overcome with desperation, she called the mechanic who arrived on the scene after well over two hours!

Answer 16

→ to date, to go out with; to frequent or to go to (like a bar or restaurant) Today's Parola del Giorno is the transitive verb “frequentare”, which can mean “to date” or “to go out with”. It can also mean “to frequent” or “to go to”, like a bar or restaurant. a. Marta e Mario si frequentano(1) da due mesi. I genitori di Marta sperano che si sposino presto! → Marta and Mario have been dating for two months. Marta's parents hope that they marry soon! [1 Note the use of the reciprocal pronoun “si”, which is used to convey an action that two or more people do with/to each other. This construction is common in Italian.]

Answer 17

→ to be crazy; to be out of one's mind Today's Parola del giorno is the expression, “essere proprio fuori (di testa)”, which means “to be crazy” or “to be out of one's mind”. This is more idiomatic way of calling someone "nuts" without literally meaning it. It is often shortened (leaving out the “di testa” part), as in the context below: a. Al mio amico piace essere lo streaker! Gli ho detto: "Ascanio, sei proprio fuori!" → My friend likes to streak. I told him: "Ascanio, you are crazy!"

Answer 18

→ in bold; in boldface Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjectival expression, “in grassetto”, which means “in bold” or “in boldface”. You will often see this expression to describe text which has been emphasised by making it darker. a. I titoli dei paragrafi della tesi vanno messi sempre in grassetto. → The titles of the thesis' paragraphs should always be in bold.

Answer 19

→ to f*ck up Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, “fare una cazzata”, which means “to f*ck up”. You will hear this word a lot when someone is saying something foolish or inane, as seen below: a. Oggi ho fatto una gran cazzata! Mi sono dimenticato le chiavi dentro casa e ho aspettato fuori la porta per più di due ore! → Today I f*cked up majorly! I forgot my keys inside the house and waited outside the door for more than two hours.

Answer 20

→ to scrimp and save; to tighten one's belt Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, “tirare la cìnghia”, which means “to scrimp and save” or “to tighten one's belt”. a. Devo comprare un sacco di regali per Natale ma quest'anno dovrò un po' tirare la cinghia per poter rientrare nelle spese. → I have to buy a ton of presents for Christmas, but this year I will have to scrimp and save so I can recover my expenses.

Answer 21

→ armchair; easy chair Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, “la poltrona”, which can mean “armchair” or “easy chair”. It can also be used to refer to a seat of power, such as those occupied by politicians. In Italy, it is not uncommon for politicians to be described as wanting to keep their seats of power in government at the expense of voters. a. Oggi sono stato all'Ikea e ho comprato una nuova poltrona di pelle nera: è molto confortevole. → Today, I was at Ikea and bought a new black leather armchair: it is very comfortable.

Answer 22

→ to complain Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb, “lamentarsi”, which means “to complain”. Here are some usage notes on the verb: 1 Use the preposition “di” (or “per”) when you want to complain about something or someone. 2 Use the preposition “con” when you want to complain to someone. a. La mia amica si lamenta tutto il giorno del suo ragazzo e dice che non lo sopporta più. Si sfoga con me tutti i giorni però le ho detto che dovrebbe lamentarsi con lui, non con me. → My friend complains about her boyfriend all day, and she says she cannot stand him anymore. She pours her heart out to me every day, but I told her she should complain to him, not to me.

Answer 23

→ later on Today's Parola del Giorno is the adverbial expression, “più in là”, which means “later on”. a. Marco, non posso aiutarti adesso! Forse più in là, quando non sono occupato, potrò farlo. → Marco, I can't help you now! Perhaps later on, when I am not busy, I will be able to do it.

Answer 24

→ to spend the night Today's Parola del Giorno is the intransitive verb, “pernottare”, which means “to spend the night”. The past participle is “pernottato”; “avere” is used in compound tenses. a. Mia moglie non vuole pernottare in questo albergo! Crede che sia un posto orribile e sporco, ma che cosa possiamo mai trovare adesso a mezzanotte!?! Che palle! → My wife doesn't want to spend the night in this hotel! She thinks it's a horrible and dirty place, but what can we ever find now at midnight!?! What a drag!

Answer 25

→ Wow!; Gosh! Besides reading, another way to learn new words and expressions is through conversation. Today’s Parola del giorno is the interjection “Urca”, which means “Wow” or “Gosh”. As many of you know, I went to a conference the other day in Nashville, Tennessee in the United States. The conference took place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conference Center, an immense complex of gardens, waterfalls, waterparks and other attractions. The resort I stayed at for my conference the other day I shared the photograph with a friend in Italy, who replied: “Urca! È come abitare in una serra!” → “Wow! It’s like living in a greenhouse!”

Answer 26

→ mountainous Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, “montuoso”, which means “mountainous”. a. Che bella la nostra vacanza in Tibet! Abbiamo visitato i bellissimi templi buddisti, che sono resi ancora più spettacolari dal paesaggio montuoso dell'Himalaya. → What a wonderful vacation in Tibet! We saw beautiful Buddhist temples that were made even more spectacular by the mountainous landscape of the Himalayas.

Answer 27

→ a colander Today's Parola del Giorno is the invariable noun, “lo scolapasta” (or il colapasta), which means “colander”. A colander is used to strain the water from the cooked pasta. a. La madre di Mario si è lamentata perché suo figlio ha sprecato la pasta. Mario, infatti, essendo un po' pigro, ha tentato di scolarla senza usare lo scolapasta e così la maggior parte della pasta è andata persa. → Mario's mother complained because her son wasted the pasta. Sure enough Mario, being a bit lazy, tried to drain it without using the colander, and so the majority of the pasta went down the

Answer 28

→ nowadays; for the time being. Today's Parola del Giorno is the adverbial expression, “oggi come oggi”, which means “nowadays” or “for the time being”. a. Oggi come oggi è molto difficile trovare un lavoro stabile che permetta di fare progetti per il futuro. → For the time being it is very difficult to find a stable job that allows for making plans for the future.

Answer 29

→ to shoot a film Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, “girare un film”, which means “to shoot a film” and can be used to describe both the actions of the director and actors. a. Nessun regista ha il permesso di girare un film nel Vaticano. Così molti sono costretti a recarsi in palazzi simili. Lo ha fatto anche Moretti in “Habemus Papam” e ha girato parte del film nel consolato francese a Roma. → No director has permission to shoot a film in the Vatican. So many are forced to go to similar buildings. Moretti also did it in "Habemus Papam", and he film a part of the film in the French consolate in Rome. The verb “girare” can also mean: 1 to turn something, such as: a. Girare una chiava → to turn a key 2 to stir, such as: b. Girare la salsa → to stir the sauce 3 to tour, such as: c. Girare gli Stati Uniti → to tour the United States

Answer 30

→ to sell like hot cakes Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression, “andare a ruba”, which means “to sell like hot cakes”. a. Quando il nuovo iPhone è uscito, è andato a ruba! Ho dovuto aspettare quasi un mese prima di ricevere il mio. → When the new iPhone came out, it sold like hot cakes! I had to wait almost a month before getting mine.

Answer 31

→ not in the least; of course not Today’s Parola del Giorno is the interjection (l’interiezione) “macché”, which means “not in the least” or “of course not”. a. Allora, vi siete divertiti alla cena di ieri? → Did you have fun then at yesterday's dinner? Macché, è stata un disastro: b. Clara e Antonia hanno litigato e tutto il ristorante si è girato a guardarle, una figuraccia! → Not in the least, it was a disaster: Clara and Antonio argued, and the entire restaurant turned to watch them, what a spectacle!

Answer 32

→ to work hard; to toil away Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb “sgobbare”, which means “to work hard” or “to toil away”. When referring to studying, it can mean “to cram” when referring to someone who is always hitting the books hard to prepare for an exam. This verb is derived from the Italian noun “la gobba”, which means “hunchback” and alludes to the way that one might feel or be physically when toiling hard at a difficult job or task. a. Questo nuovo lavoro è davvero duro: sgobbo dalla mattina alla sera per pochi soldi e in più devo anche subire le cattiverie dei colleghi. Non durerò molto. → This new job is really difficult: I work hard from morning to night for little money, and, more importantly, I also have to put up with my coworker's nastiness. I will not last long.

Answer 33

→ heavy dew Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun “la guazza”, which means “heavy dew”. a. Questa mattina l'erba del prato era tutta coperta di guazza. Quando sono tornato a casa dopo la passeggiata, le mie scarpe erano tutte bagnate. → This morning the grass in the yard was all covered in dew. When I got home after my walk, my shoes were all wet.

Answer 34

→ jaws of an animal Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, “le fauci”, which means “jaws of an animal”. It is always used in the plural, and it is a feminine noun, too. a. L'anno scorso in un safari in Kenya abbiamo visto una scena da documentario: un leone non vedeva l'ora di mangiarsi la sua preda, inseguendola con le fauci spalancate. Per fortuna la gazzella è riuscita a sfuggirgli con un balzo rapido e improvviso! → Last year on safari in Kenya we saw a documentary-like scene: a lion couldn't wait to eat his prey, following it with its gaping jaws. Luckily, the gazelle was able to get away from it with a quick, sudden leap!

Answer 35

→ to have/to make someone do something. Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression “far fare”, which means “to have/to make someone do something”. The use of “far fare” is one of the most useful expressions out there. Everyone uses it, and you will see it used all over Italy in writing and in conversation. a. Non ne posso più con i miei figli! Torno a casa e non hanno fatto niente. Come posso fargli sistemare la casa quando sono al lavoro? → I can’t bear it anymore with my children! I come home, and they have done nothing. How can I make them tidy up the house when I am at work?

Answer 36

→ to put on airs; to show off Today’s Parola del Giorno is the pronominal verb “tirarsela”, which means “to put on airs” or “to show off”. a. Non capisco perché Luisa se la tiri così tanto. È una bella ragazza ma non è una super star. Se fosse un po’ più modesta guadagnerebbe in simpatia e allora piacerebbe davvero a tutti! → I don’t understand why Luisa puts on airs so much. She is a beautiful woman, but she is not a super star. If she were a bit more modest, she would garner more affection and then people would really like her.

Answer 37

→ on/at the stroke of midnight Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “a mezzanotte in punto”, which means “on/at the stroke of midnight”. a. Ogni 31 dicembre, mio padre dice che rimarrà sveglio fino a mezzanotte ma a mezzanotte in punto lo troviamo a dormire! → Every December 31st my father says he will stay away until midnight, but at the stroke of midnight we find him sleeping!

Answer 38

→ a fortune-teller Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun “il/la cartomante”, which means “a fortune-teller”. Il cartomante lesse le carte a Chiara e le disse che l’aspettava un futuro pieno di soddisfazioni lavorative, ma le disse anche di stare attenta perché c’era il rischio che il suo fidanzato la stesse tradendo con un’altra donna. → The fortune-teller read Chiara’s cards and told her che she should expect a future full of work satisfaction but also told her to pay attention because there was the risk her boyfriend might be cheating on her with another woman.

Answer 39

→ Birds of a feather flock together Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “Dio li fa e poi li accoppia”, which means “Birds of a feather flock together”. The expression literally means “God makes them and then pairs them up”. a. Sara e Vittorio sono due persone molto arroganti e non chiedono mai scusa quando sbagliano. Per questo stanno bene insieme. Mia nonna lo diceva sempre: “Dio li fa e poi li accoppia“. → Sara and Vittorio are two very arrogant people, and they never apologize when they are wrong. For this reason they are good together. My grandmother used to always say it: “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Answer 40

→ to be unseeded (literally: to not be seeded) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “non essere testa di serie”, which means “to be unseeded” (literally: to not be seeded). For most tournaments, you will have players who are seeded, unseeded players, and unseeded players who must go through qualifying. Note that this expression can also be used as an adjective “non testa di serie”, which means “unseeded”. a. Tutti sono rimasti sorpresi quando quel nuovo giocatore, nonostante non fosse una testa di serie, ha sconfitto lo scorso campione del torneo. Nessuno si aspettava una performance così straordinaria da parte di un giocatore non testa di serie! → Everyone was surprised when that new player, even though he was unseeded, defeated the last tournament champion. No one expected such an extraordinary performance by an unseeded player!

Answer 41

→ to be fed up (with) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “non poterne più (di)”, which means “to be fed up (with)”. Note the use of the pronoun “ne”! It can be used on its own (Non ne posso più = I’ve had it!) or with the preposition “di” for more explanation about what exactly is bothering you (as in our example below). a. Non ne posso più della tua maleducazione e arroganza! Questa è casa mia e ci sono delle regole: se ti cucini, poi devi anche pulire! → I am fed up with your rudeness and arrogance! This is my home, and there are some rules: if you cook, then you also have to clean!

Answer 42

→ a grant, an allowance, a benefit Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun “il sussidio”, which means “a grant”, “an allowance” or “a benefit”. a. Con questa nuova borsa di studio ho diritto ad un sussidio di 1.500 Euro. Non male! → With this new scholarship I am entitled to a grant of 1,500 euro. Not bad!

Answer 43

→ to be/stay out late Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression “fare tardi”, which means “to be/stay out late”. Do not confuse “fare tardi” which “essere in ritardo”, which means “to be late”. a. Oggi ho perso l’autobus perché ieri notte ho fatto tardi e sono tornato a casa alle 3. Stamattina non mi sono svegliato in tempo e sono arrivato in ufficio con un ritardo di due ore. Il capo era abbastanza seccato. Spero che non mi licenzi! → Today I missed the bus because I stayed out late last night and got home at 3:00 AM. This morning I didn’t wake up on time and got to work 2 hours late. My boss was quite annoyed. I hope he does not fire me!

Answer 44

→ to bite Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb “azzannare”, which means “to bite”. a. Si trovano spesso cani randagi in giro per le città italiane. State attenti - ho letto sul giornale che azzannanole persone che gli si avvicinano troppo! → Stray dogs are often found around Italian cities. Be careful - I read in the paper that they bite people that get too close to them!

Answer 45

→ to be a period of time since + period of time Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “fare + un periodo di tempo + che”, which means “to be a period of time since + period of time”. This expression is often used with the adverb “oggi” (today) to describe the duration of some event that had begun since today, as in our example below: a. Oggi fanno quindici anni che ci siamo lasciati quindi puoi immaginare la mia sorpresa quando l’ho incontrata in metro! → It has been 15 years today since we broke up, therefore you can imagine my surprise when I ran into her on the metro!

Answer 46

→ to say yes and to say no, respectively Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression “dire di sì” and “dire di no”, which means “to say yes” and “to say no”, respectively. a. Marco ha telefonato ad Antonio e gli ha chiesto: “Pensi di accompagnarci al mare domani mattina?” → Marco called Antonio and asked him: “Can you go with me to the beach tomorrow morning? Antonio gli ha risposto: “Sì…sono libero!” → Antonio responded to him: “Yes…I’m free!” E poi Marco ha continuato, “E Antonella?” → And then Marco continued, “And Antonella?” “Dice di no…non riesce a prendere le ferie, ha troppo da fare in ufficio!” → “She said no…she can’t take any days off, she has too much to do at work!” “Ma come? Aveva detto di sì due giorni fa?” → “But how? She had said yes two days ago?”

Answer 47

→ to throw a pass (as one might do if playing American football) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression “fare un passaggio”, which means “to throw a pass”, as one might do if playing American football. In case you had not heard, the New England Patriots won the Superbowl! The last few words this week will close out our theme. a. Non appena il giocatore ha visto quattro avversari che correvano verso di lui, ha fatto un passaggio al suo compagno di squadra prima del placcaggio. → As soon as the player saw four opponents running towards him, he threw a pass to his teammate before the tackle.

Answer 48

→ on the run Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “in fuga”, which means “on the run”, like when someone is escaping the long arm of the law! a. Accendi la TV, stanno trasmettendo l’inseguimento di alcuni banditi in fuga sull’autostrada, lo voglio vedere! → Turn on the TV, they are showing the highway chase of some gunmen on the run, I want to see it!

Answer 49

→ to feel ashamed Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “provare vergogna”, which means “to feel ashamed”. a. Il padre di Beatrice mi ha detto che ha provato molta vergogna quando ha saputo che la figlia prendeva in giro i suoi compagni di scuola. Per questo motivo, le ha vietato di uscire per sei mesi. → Beatrice’s father told me he felt very ashamed when he found out his daughter was teasing her classmates. Because of this he forbade her from going out for six months.

Answer 50

→ the sales Today's Parola del Giorno is the plural noun “i saldi”, which means “the sales”. In Italy, sales generally happen twice a year: after Christmas in January and in the summer beginning the first few days of July. a. Ti piace la mia maglietta? L'ho presa quest'estate quando c'erano i saldi: ho fatto un affare comprandola a metà prezzo! → Do you like my T-shirt? I got it this summer when the sales were on: I got a deal buying it at half price!

Answer 51

→ a tiger mosquito Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun “la zanzara tigre” (plural: le zanzare tigre), which means “a tiger mosquito”. They are called “tiger mosquitoes” because of their unique white stripes that resembles those of tigers. This species of mosquito was not present in Italy until the 1990s and has since spread throughout Europe. They are faster and smaller than your typical mosquito are quite difficult to control and kill. If you are in Italy in the summer, you are bound to run into them from time to time, especially during the day. a. Le zanzare tigre non sono indigene dell'Italia: sono arrivate durante gli anni 90 dall'Asia e adesso sono un grande problema per tutto il Paese. → Tiger mosquitoes are not indigenous to Italy: they arrived during the 1990s from Asia and now are a huge problem for the entire country.

Answer 52

→ a prude, a prig Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun “il bacchettone” (la bacchettona), which means “a prude” or “a prig”. a. Che persona noiosa il padre di Valerio! Vede sempre il male nelle cose e ci dice sempre che noi ragazzi non abbiamo valori sani e pensiamo solo a divertirci e a cose inutili. Cavolo, è proprio un bacchettone! → What a boring person Valerio’s father is! He always sees the worst in things and tell us that we kids have no wholesome values, and we think only of having fun and other useless things. Gosh, he is a really a prig!

Answer 53

→ “Un bar” is more like a café, a place where you might go to get a quick espresso, a sandwich, something for lunch, pastry to go with your coffee, etc. Today’s Parola del giorno is the invariable noun “il bar”. “Un bar” in Italian is not a bar like one might think in the American sense (or a pub if you are British/Australia/etc.). “Un bar” is more like a café, a place where you might go to get a quick espresso, a sandwich, something for lunch, pastry to go with your coffee, etc. I can't think of any town or city in Italy that doesn't have at least one bar.

Answer 54

→ to put sth. in one’s pocket Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb “intascare”. It can mean “to put something in one’s pocket”. It can also be used in a figurative sense, too, as in to pocket something, especially when the money’s origins are shady or when one is doing something illegal or improper. The Past Participle is “intascato”; “avere” is used in compound tenses. a. Dopo mesi di preparazione, l’operazione clandestina contro l’amministratore comunale corrotto si stava per concludere! Non appena l’amministratore avesse intascato la tangente datagli dall'agente segreto, sarebbe stato arrestato. → After months of preparation, the undercover operation against the corrupt administrator for the comune was about to wrap up! As soon as he pocketed the bribe given to him by the undercover agent, he would be arrested.

Answer 55

→ gruelling Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective “sfibrante”, which means “gruelling”. This adjective is used, for example, when describing a long or difficult wait. a. Un mese fa ho mandato al consolato tutti i moduli e i documenti per il visto ma ancora non ho ricevuto nessuna risposta. Devo dire che questa attesa è piuttoso sfibrante! → A month ago I sent all the forms and documents for the visa to the consolate, but I still have not gotten any response. I have to say this wait is rather grueling!

Answer 56

→ to keep in touch; to not be a stranger Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression “farsi vivo”, which means “to keep in touch” or “to not be a stranger”. a. Mi preoccupo per Danilo perché è una vita che non lo sento. Ieri sera ho incontrato Mario che mi ha detto che vedrà Danilo questo sabato. Gli ho chiesto di dire a Danilo da parte mia: “fatti vivo!” → I worry about Danilo because it has been ages since I have heard from him. Yesterday evening I ran into Mario who told me that he will see Danilo this Saturday. I told him to tell Danilo I said “Keep in touch!”

Answer 57

→ tough Today’s Parola del Giorno is the adjective “coriaceo”, which means “tough”, when talking about an opponent. You will see this adjective a lot in newspaper articles about sports. a. Nonostante la giocatrice abbia una posizione bassa in classifica, le altre giocatrici la conoscono per essere coriacea e ostinata sul campo! Non getta mai la spugna e corre da un angolo all’altro del campo, rinviando ogni colpo! → Even though the player was ranked low, the other players know her as tough and dogged on the court! She never throws in the towel and runs from one corner of the court to the other, returning every shot!

Answer 58

→ Il culaccino With my studies in politics and International Relations in full gear, I have not had a lot of time to devote to studying and reading much Italian. A few weeks ago, however, I worked on a research proposal on Italian mafia and politics and, to make a long story short, I did a lot of reading in Italian. The course of my research and reading, I ran across this strange word: “il culaccino”. Have you encountered this word? I had never heard it, but it has several meanings: 1 the end of a piece of salami or a loaf of bread (this is my favorite part of the bread, I must admit). 2 the last bit of some substance in a glass or vessel (the dregs of something). 3 a ring left by a glass, mug, or cup by water or some other liquid. Strangely enough, it is derived from the Italian word “il culo”, which means “butt” or “bottom”. I guess now it all makes sense…

Answer 59

→ to be in the middle Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression “stare nel mezzo”, which means to be in the middle. a. L’autunno è la stagione che sta nel mezzo fra l’estate e l’inverno: molte persone la preferiscono proprio per questo motivo: perché non fa troppo caldo e nemmeno troppo freddo. → Autumn is the season that is in the middle between summer and winter: many people prefer it just for this reason: because it is not too hot and neither is it too cold.

Answer 60

→ can (do something); to manage to do something Today's Parola del Giorno is the Pronominal Verb (Verbo Pronominale) “farcela a + infinito”, which means “can (do something)” or “to manage to do something”. a. Mamma mi ha chiesto se ce la faccio a sbrigare qualche commissione dopo la lezione, ma sarò in aula fino alle 18:00. Dovrò andare all’ufficio postale domani mattina, quando sarò libero, per pagare le bollette. → Mom asked me if I can run some errands after the lesson, but I will be in class until 6:00 PM. I will have go to the post office tomorrow morning when I am free to pay the bills.

Answer 61

→ to have a hangover Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression “avere i postumi della sbronza”, which means “to have a hangover”. Let’s hope you slid into 2023 without “i postumi della sbronza”! a. Carlo, ogni anno mi dici che non vuoi avere i postumi della sbronza dopo la festa del 31 dicembre. Ti prometti sempre di bere di meno, ma poi non lo fai mai! → Carlo, every year you tell me that you don't want to have a hangover after the party on New Year's Eve. You always promise yourself that you will drink less, but then you never do it!

Answer 62

→ Happy New Year Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression “Felice Anno Nuovo”, which means “Happy New Year!” a. Alla mezzanotte del primo gennaio mi piace molto leggere tutti i messaggi di “Felice Anno Nuovo” che ricevo sul cellulare dai miei amici che vivono lontano! → At midnight on the first of January I very much like to read all the "Happy New Year" messages I receive on my mobile from my friends who live far away!

Answer 63

→ to be stressed out Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “essere stressato”, which means “to be stressed out”. As much as we all love the holidays, this time of year for many can be stressful, especially if you have to work long hours in retail or find yourself always on the go or dealing with shopping and crowds! a. Un anno, sotto le feste di Natale, mia nonna mi disse, “Perché hai sempre un bicchiere di vino in mano?” Le risposi: “Non vedi come sono stressato? Le feste mi rompono: fammi godere una piccola pausa con questo buon vino!” → One year, during the Christmas holiday, my grandmother told me, “Why do you always have a glass of wine in your hand?” I told her: “Can’t you see I’m stressed out? The holidays bother me: let me enjoy a short break with this great wine!”

Answer 64

→ to wrap/unwrap a gift Today’s Parola del Giorno are the verbs “incartare/scartare un regalo”, which mean “to wrap/unwrap a gift”. Wrapping presents is a lot of work, but unwrapping them is so much more fun! Don’t forget another useful word for this holiday season: la carta da regalo → wrapping paper a. Che bello quando la mattina di Natale i miei bambini vedono tutti i regali sotto l’albero! Sono come api che scartando tutti i regali come se fosse il loro primo Natale. Che entusiasmo! → How beautiful when on Christmas morning my children see all the gifts under the tree! They are like bees unwrapping all the gifts as if it were their first Christmas! What enthusiasm!

Answer 65

→ to decorate, to deck (out) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb “addobbare”, which means “to decorate” or “to deck (out)”. a. Il fine settimana scorso, Sandro e Maria hanno addobbato la loro casa per Natale. Hanno usato luci, calze rosse, agrifogli e nastri che hanno comprato nei loro viaggi per il mondo. Ogni anno, casa loro è il regno del Natale! → Last weekend Sandro and Maria decorated their house for Christmas. They used lights, red stockings, holly and ribbons they bought in their travels around the world. Every year Christmas reigns supreme in their home!

Answer 66

→ an urban legend An urban legend, according to Merriam-Webster, is “an often lurid story or anecdote that is based on hearsay and widely circulated as true.” Are you familiar with this Italian urban legend? The gist is that if you pop a pimple (schiacciare un brufolo), you can bleed to death (morire dissanguato).

Answer 67

→ bomb scare Today’s #PdG is the masculine noun “l’allarme bomba”, which means “bomb scare”.

Answer 68

→ New Year's resolutions Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun “i buoni propositi”, which means “New Year's resolutions”. Resolutions are made at the end of the old year for the new year and are a common ritual! Some common verbs for notable resolutions: 1 Dimagrire (to lose weight), 2 Andare in palestra (to go to the gym), 3 Vivere nel “qui e ora” (living in the hear and now). a. Avete scelto i vostri buoni propositi per il 2017? Io sì! Prometto di andare più spesso in palestra, di essere più simpatico e tento di non mangiare cose fritte. Vediamo se riesco a mantenere queste promesse. → Have you chosen your New Year's resolutions for 2017? I have! I promise to go more often to the gym, to be nicer, and to try to not eat fried foods. Let's see if I can maintain these promises.

Answer 69

→ scullery boy, scullery maid Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, “lo sguattero”, which means “scullery boy”. The feminine, “la sguattera”, means “a scullery maid”. It is often used figuratively, especially when one is forced to undertake menial tasks that are not necessarily their responsibility! In English, we might also translate this as “servant”. a. Camilla è stufa dei suoi coinquilini e della loro maleducazione: sporcano la casa e non puliscono mai. Tocca sempre a lei mettere a posto e non le va più di fare la sguattera. → Camilla is fed up with her roommates and their rudeness: they dirty the house and never clean. It is always her turn to tidy up, and she doesn't feel like being the scullery maid/servant anymore.

Answer 70

→ to kiss each other under the mistletoe Today’s Parola del Giorno is verb expression “baciarsi sotto il vischio”, which means “to kiss each other under the mistletoe”. a. Mi piacciono i vecchi film che sono ambientati durante Natale. C’è sempre una scena con due attori che si baciano sotto il vischio. Per me è una delle cose più romantiche! → I like the old films that take place during Christmas. There is always a scene with two actors who kiss (each other) under the mistletoe. For me it is one the most romantic things! [NB: Note the use of the Reciprocal Verb (baciarsi) or L’Uso Reciproco! They are not quite reflexive because the action is exchanged between two or more people. Other verbs that can be used reciprocally: “amars (to love each other), “incontrarsi” (to meet each other), “scontrarsi” (to crash into each other), “abbracciarsi” (to hug each other).]

Answer 71

→ to light up the Christmas Tree Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, “accendere l'albero di Natale”, which means “to light up the Christmas Tree”. a. Quando mio padre ha pigiato il bottone per accendere l'albero di Natale, nulla è accaduto. Forse c'era un cortocircuito da qualche parte. → When my father pressed the button to light up the Christmas tree, nothing happened. Perhaps there was a shortcircuit somewhere.

Answer 72

→ to exchange Season’s greetings Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression “scambiarsi gli auguri”, which means “to exchange Season’s greetings”. a. Una cosa che Paolina non tollera del Natale è il doversi scambiare gli auguri con amici, parenti e conoscenti. Dice che alcune di queste persone non le vede mai per tutto l’anno. Perché deve per forza augurargli buone feste? → One thing Paolina can’t stand about Christmas is having to exchange Season’s greetings with friends, relatives and acquaintances. She says some of these people haven’t seen her for a whole year. Why should she be forced to wish the a Happy Holiday?

Answer 73

→ Christmas Eve dinner Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun “il cenone di Natale”, which means “Christmas Eve dinner”. This meal is a large, celebratory dinner in which you typically invite family and extremely close friends. “Il cenone” can also be used to refer to a large, celebratory meal often done on New Year’s Eve (Il cenone di capodanno). a. Da piccolo, al cenone di Natale, eravamo in venti: c’erano la mia famiglia, i miei zii e cugini, i miei nonni. Una grande famiglia italiana. Crescendo, la famiglia si è dispersa ma continuo a celebrare la tradizione del cenone con i miei amici più stretti. → As a child at Christmas Eve dinner, there were 20 of us: there was my family, my aunts and uncles, my cousins and my grandparents. One large Italian family. As I grew up, the family got scattered, but I continue to celebrate the tradition of the Christmas Eve dinner with my closest friends.

Answer 74

→ persistent Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, “perseverante”, which can mean “persistent”. It can be used to describe a person who is persistent, in the sense of persevering: a. Il lavoro è difficile per Maria, ma è molto brava! Ogni giorno studia e non vuole smettere - che perseverante! → The work is difficult for Maria, but she is very clever. Every day she studies and doesn't want to stop -- how persistent!

Answer 75

→ Christmas carol Buon Natale e/o Buone Feste a tutti!! I hope that everyone is enjoying the holiday if they celebrate it. Today concludes our “Christmas theme” for the week! Starting Sunday we will look at words and expressions related to Capodanno! Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun “i canti di Natale”, which means “Christmas carol”. A Christmas carol is a song that is sung around Christmas time. In the United States, Christmas songs can be hymns used in Church music other the more popular kind heard on the radios, such as Jingle Bells, Jingle Bell Rock, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, and many others! a. Questo fine settimana, il coro della città canterà i canti di Natale in piazza. Faranno tutte le canzoni più famose, da Jingle Bells a Tu scendi dalle stelle, andiamo a vederli? → This weekend the city’s chorus will sing Christmas carols in the square. They will do the most famous songs, from “Jingle Bells” to “From Starry Skies Thou Comest,” so are we going to see them?

Answer 76

→ to last a very short time Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression “durare da Natale a Santo Stefano”, which means “to last a very short time”. “Il Natale” means “Christmas”, and “Santo Stefano” is the day after Christmas, December 26 (Boxing Day). a. A breve arriverà l'estate e dovrei davvero mettermi a dieta. Solo che non ho la forza di volontà necessaria: ogni volta che comincio una dieta, dura da Natale a Santo Stefano. Devo essere più determinato! → Soon summer will arrive, and I will really have to go on a diet. But I don't have the necessary willpower: every time I start a start, it lasts a very short time. I have to be more determined!

Answer 77

→ know-it-all (noun); conceited, presumptuous (adjective) Today’s Parola del giorno is the adjective “saccente”. When used as a noun, it can mean “know-it-all”. As an adjective, it can mean “conceited” or “presumptuous”. a. Non mi piace parlare delle notizie con Marco. È un molto saccente che pensa di sapere tutto. → I don’t like talking about current events with Marco. He is a big know-it-all who thinks he knows everything.

Answer 78

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Grammatica Centrale Italian does not have a Present Perfect Continuous Tense: → I have been studying Italian for six years. To express an action that began in the past, continues into the present and is still being done, Italian uses the following construction: Present Tense + da + period of time Here is an example: a. Studio l'italiano da otto anni. → I have been studying Italian for eight years.

Answer 79

→ to be fully booked Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, "essere al completo", which means "to be fully booked". a. Mio cugino mi ha avvisato che era folle andare a Capri senza aver prenotato. Aveva ragione: quando siamo arrivati tutti gli alberghi erano al completo! Non siamo riusciti a trovare niente e abbiamo dirottato verso Procida. → My cousin advised me that it was crazy to go to Capri without booking. He was right: when we arrived all the hotels were fully booked. We weren't able to find anything, and we detoured to Procida.

Answer 80

→ a motorboat Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, "il motoscafo", which means "motorboat". a. Una delle mie scene preferite è in un film di James Bond. Quella in cui va in giro in motoscafo fra i canali di Venezia! → One of my favorite scenes is in one of the James Bond films. That one where he goes around in a motorboat through the canals of Venice!

Answer 81

→ to hoe, to dig; a hoe Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb, "zappare", which means "to hoe" or "to dig". The verb "zappare" comes from the Italian noun "la zappa", which means "hoe". a. Quando ero piccolo mia nonna mi raccontava sempre di un suo zio contadino al quale piaceva molto zapparela terra la mattina presto e irrigare il terreno per piantare patate, pomodori e quant’altro. Per lui era un toccasana. → When I was a boy, my grandmother always used to tell me about one of her farmer uncles who liked to hoe the ground early in the morning and water the soil to plant potatoes, tomatoes and what have you. For him it was a cure-all.

Answer 82

→ jumbled; choatic Today’s Sinonimo del giorno is the noun "il farraginoso", which means "jumbled" or "choatic". It shares a similar meaning with the adjectives "confuso" and "caotico". a. Hai un modo farraginoso di esporre le tue idee e infatti nessuno riesce mai a comprendere cosa pensi. → You have a jumbled way of expressing your ideas, and no one is ever able to understand what you are thinking.

Answer 83

→ to recruit Today’s Parola del giorno is the verb "reclutare", which means "to recruit". You will often encounter this verb in military and policing contexts.

Answer 84

→ the tasting Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun "la degustazione", which means "the tasting". Wine (and food) tastings are common not only large cities but also small ones and in the countryside. Whenever possible, try before you buy! a. Questo fine settimana vado con la mia famiglia a fare una degustazione di vini in campagna. Sarà una buona occasione per rilassarsi e assaggiare buoni vini. → This week end I am going with my family to do a wine tasting in the country. It will be a great occasion to relax and try some good wines.

Answer 85

→ to overact; to be histrionic Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb, "gigioneggiàre", which means "to overact" or "to be histrionic". When conjugated in the Present Tense, the stress shifts: io gigionèggio, tu gigionèggi, lui/lei gigionèggia…loro gigionèggiano. The Past Participle is "gigioneggiato", and "avere" is used in compound tenses. a. A Robin piace molto gigioneggiarsi davanti agli altri…è convinta di essere più bella e intelligente sulla faccia della terra. Ma forse dovrebbe imparare ad essere più umile! → Robin likes to be histrionic a lot in front of others...she is convinced she is the most beautiful and intelligent person on the face of the Earth. But perhaps she should learn to be more humble!

Answer 86

→ to play dumb Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, "fare lo gnorri", which means "to play dumb". "Lo gnorri" is an invariable noun and comes from the verb, "ignorare"; it is almost always used with this expression: a. Quando chiedo a mio nipote di sei anni se è lui a nascondermi le chiavi di casa, lui nega sempre e fa lo gnorri. Ma io so per certo che è lui che mi fa questo scherzo! → When I ask my six year old nephew if he is the one hiding my house keys, he always denies it and plays dumb. But I know for sure that he is the one playing this joke on me.

Answer 87

→ to shush, to silence, to hush Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb, "zittire", which means "to shush", "to silence" or "to hush". Remember that zittire is an -isc- verb like “preferirire”: zittisco, zittisci, zittisce...zittiscono. a. Con una risposta secca e decisa, “sono fatti miei," l'attore zittì tutti i giornalisti che gli chiedevano in continuazione della sua vita privata. → With a sharp and firm response,"it's my business," the actor silenced all the journalists that were continually asking him about his private life.

Answer 88

→ drenched, dripping or sopping Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, "fràdicio", which means "drenched", "dripping" or "sopping". It is often used with another adjective to reinforce its meaning, such as, "bagnato", to mean "soaking/dripping wet" or "sudato", to mean "drenched in sweat". It is also often used with the adjective, "ubriaco", to mean "smashed", "wasted" or "dead drunk". a. Credo che abbiamo un problema con l'asciugatrice: ieri ho tirato fuori i panni ed erano ancora bagnati fradici. → I think we have a problem with the dryer: I took the clothes out yesterday, and they were still soaking wet.

Answer 89

→ to be against something / someone Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression "essere contrario [a + qualcosa]", which means "to be against something / someone". This expression can be followed by a noun or an infinitive, but both must be preceeded by the preposition, "a". a. Sono contrario a Berlusconi -- non mi piace il suo ruolo al governo. Ci sono politici che sono più bravi. → I am against Berlusconi -- I do not like his role in government. There are politicians that are more skillful. b. Siamo contrari a comprare una nuova macchina. La nostra funziona bene ed è solo un po' vecchia. → We are against buying a new car. Ours runs well and is only a bit old.

Answer 90

→ to grease, to oil Today’s Parola del giorno is the Transitive Verb "ùngere", which means "to grease" or "to oil". This is a verb you will commonly see used in recipes where, after greasing a pan, you would then flour it (infarinare).

Answer 91

Le misure - Measuring distance in Italian In the United States, we use the Imperial System of measurement, which means we measure in inches, feet, yards, and miles. Do you know how to say these words in Italian? Un pòllice → an inch Un piede → a foot Una yard → a yard Un mìglio¹ → a mile 1 The plural of il miglio (mile) is le miglia (miles): un miglio = one mile; sei miglia = six miles.

Answer 92

Mancìno / Destrimano (nomi e aggettivi) → left-handed / right-handed (mancino, mancina, mancini, mancine) (desteimano, destrimana, destrimani, destrimane) Back from Italy with some new words that I learned! The first comes from my friend Vito in Palermo who taught me the word "mancìno", which means "left-handed". It can be used as both a noun and adjective to refer to a left-handed person or to describe someone who is left-handed. It can also be used to describe soccer (football) players who kick with or play on their left side (left-footed). The opposite is "destrimano" (destrimana, destrimani, destrimane), which means "right-handed".

Answer 93

→ to go to the polls; to go to the ballot box Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression "andare alle urne", which means "to go to the polls" or "to go to the ballot box". This expression has its roots in Ancient Greece in Rome where voters would drop shard of pottery in an urn to indicate their voting preference. a. Questa settimana i cittadini andranno alle urne per votare il proprio sindaco. Sarà una sfida fra il sindaco uscente e sua nipote, appartenente al partito avversario. Chi vincerà? → This week voters will head to the polls to vote for their mayor. It will be a contest between the outgoing mayor and his niece, a member of the rival party. Who will win?

Answer 94

→ perky; jaunty Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective "ringalluzzito" that means "perky" or "jaunty". As you can probably tell from the adjective, it comes from the noun "il gallo", which means "rooster". a. I complimenti che hai fatto a Caterina ieri l'hanno davvero fatta sentire meglio. Oggi è venuta a lavoro tutta ringalluzzita e sicura di sé: era da molto tempo che non la vedevamo così. → The compliments you paid to Caterina yesterday really made her feel better. Today, she came to work all perky and sure of herself: it's been a long time since we saw her like that.

Answer 95

→ second helping of food, encore Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, "il bis", which can mean "seconds". "Seconds" refers to those times when you've had a great meal at a relative's house, and you want some more to eat, such as a second helping. "Il bis" can also mean "encore", like what you might see at the theater or at a concert. a. Ho preparato una bella torta per il cenone ma quando mia madre ha tagliato le fette, erano troppo piccole. Quando le ho chiesto il perché, mi ha detto che la torta era troppo buona per non averne di più per domani! "Mamma, cosa facciamo se una persona vuole il bis?" → I made a beautiful cake for Christmas Eve dinner, but when my mother cut the pieces they were too small. When I asked her why, she told me that the cake was too good to not have any more of it for tomorrow. "Mom, what do we do if somebody wants seconds?"

Answer 96

→ shady (i.e. illegal) Today’s Parola del giorno is the adjective "losco", which means "shady". A friend of mine in Italy sometimes jokes when I am doing too much research: a. “Fai qualcosa di losco?” → “Are you doing something shady?” In this context, "shady" means someone or something dishonest or, when referring to acts, illegal. To refer to "shady" when you mean sheltering from the sun’s rays, use "ombroso" or "ombreggiato".

Answer 97

→ The devil is in the details Today’s Parola del giorno is the expression "il diavolo si nasconde nei dettagli", which means "The devil is in the details". This expression means that something might seem simple on the surface, but when you start to look at things more closely, it is much more complicated. I have seen this expression in the newspaper and from Italian social media users, especially around discussions of vaccination campaigns and rules in Italy and the EU.

Answer 98

→ at the wheel of or behind the wheel of Essere alla guida di: → to drive or to be at the wheel of Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression, "alla guida di", which means "at the wheel of" or "behind the wheel of". This expression is often coupled with the verb, "essere", to mean: to drive or to be at the wheel of. a. Giovanni era alla guida della macchina quando si è addormentato e ha avuto un incidente. Grazie a Dio sta bene! → Giovanni was driving when he fell asleep and had an accident. Thank god he is fine!

Answer 99

→ boozer, lush Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, "il beone", which means "a boozer" or "a lush". a. Un bicchiere o due di vino durante la cena non è male. Però una persona che beve una o due bottiglie durante la cena è proprio un beone! Non so come faccia Gianni a bere così tanto! → A glass or two of wine during dinner is not bad. But a person that drinks one or two bottles during dinner is a real boozer! I don't know how Gianni can drink so much! The noun "beone"¹ comes from the Latin word "bibonis", which has the same meaning. Don’t forget that the Italian verb "bere" (to drink) is irregular in the present tense. 1 In some Italian literary works, you might see it written as "bevone".

Answer 100

→ to be unable to wait or to long (to do something) Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression "non vedere l'ora", which means "to be unable to wait" or "to long (to do something)". Don’t forget: the preposition "di" precedes the infinitive. This is a very common Italian expression that you will encounter often. Try to work it into your every day writing and speaking. a. Non vedo l’ora di andare a studiare in Italia! Sono così entusiasta alla sola idea! Ho persino trovato una casa vicino Testaccio… sono al settimo cielo! → I can't wait to go study in Italy! I am so thrilled at the mere idea! I even found a house near Testaccio... I am on Cloud Nine!

Answer 101

→ to go from one subject to another Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression "andare di palo in frasca", which means "to go from one subject to another". a. La professoressa ha detto che la nostra presentazione non era ben strutturata: non abbiamo sviluppato bene il tema assegnatoci ma¹ siamo andati di palo in frasca con gli argomenti. Per questo motivo, ci ha detto che il lavoro non è stato sufficiente. → The teacher said our presentation was not well structured: we didn't develop the themes assigned to us well and went from one subject to another with the subject matter. Because of this she told us the work was not sufficient. 1 *While the conjunction "ma" can mean "but" or "yet", it can also be used to mean "and" when the goal is to emphasize or reinforce an idea (that the presentation was not that good).

Answer 102

→ to hit the books Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, "mettersi sui libri", which means "to hit the books". a. Che palle! Ho un esame lunedì e devo studiare molto! Mi metterò sui libri tutto il week end per prepararmi per quest’esame di filosofia. → Damn! I have an exam on Monday and have to study a lot! I will hit the books all weekend in order to prepare myself for this philosophy exam.

Answer 103

→ profitable; lucrative Today's Parola del giorno is the adjective, "profìcuo", which means "profitable" or "lucrative". a. Si prevede un 2010 proficuo per le aziende tessili e metalmeccaniche. → They are predicting a profitable 2010 for textile and engineering firms.

Answer 104

→ catchy (of a musical tune) Parola del giorno is the adjective, “orecchiàbile”, which means "catchy", when referring to a musical tune. a. Hai sentito il nuovo jingle? È così orecchiabile che non posso smettere di canticchiarlo. → Did you hear the new jingle? It is so catchy that I cannot stop humming it.

Answer 105

→ the hottest time of the day; midday heat Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun "la canìcola", which means the hottest time of the day or "midday heat". This word has an interesting etymology and is derived from the Latin word for puppy, "canicula". The hottest part of the day is typically when the sun passes crosses Sirius major and Sirius minor, hence the dog connection and the heat! Depending on where you live, this is usually between noon and 3:00 PM. a. Durante le ore di canicola, è consigliabile che i più anziani e i bambini non escano di casa e bevano molta acqua. → During the hottest part of the day, it is advisable that the elderly and children should not leave the house and should drink a lot of water.

Answer 106

→ unfulfilled promise; worthless promise Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun expression, "la promessa da marinàio", which means "an unfulfilled promise" or "a worthless promise". This expression refers to promises we make in difficult situations but then never fulfill those promises, like when we bargain with a higher power during a dangerous situation but then fail to fulfill those promises when the danger or problem has passed. This expression pops up a lot on blogs and in articles when they discuss politicians and their inability to keep promises. a. Non posso garantire la mia presenza alla tua seduta di laurea, non faccio promesse da marinaio. Se mi danno il giorno libero a lavoro ci sarò sicuramente ma posso fartelo sapere venerdì prossimo. → I cannot guarantee I’ll be at your graduation, I do not make worthless promises. If they give me the day off work, I will surely be there but I can let you know next Friday.

Answer 107

→ ancient Today’s Sinonimo del giorno is the adjective "vetusto", which means "ancient". It can also be used jokingly to mean something that is very antique because of its extreme age. It is more commonly used to describe things that are out of date or behind the times, as in our examples below: a. Trovo quell’appartamento vetusto e fuori moda; non andrei mai ad abitarci! → I find that apartment out of date and outmoded; I would never live there! or b. Trovo la tecnologia di quel macchinario troppo vetusta. Non lo compreremo mai! → I find that machinery’s technology too out of date. We will never buy it! "Vetusto" Sinonimi: "antiquato", "decrepito", "molto vecchio"

Answer 108

→ to fall (in)to temptation Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression "cadére in tentazione", which means "to fall (in)to temptation". a. Maria è ossessiva con la sua dieta e evita a cenare fuori e pure non andrà più a prendere un caffè. Ha paura di cadere in tentazione se vede un cornetto o sente odore di pizza o degli altri fritti! → Maria is obsessed with her diet and avoids eating out and even will not go anymore to get a coffee. She is afraid of falling to temptation if she sees a croissant or smells pizza or some other fried foods!

Answer 109

→ body (as in a corpse) Today’s Parola del giorno is going to be more anecdotal so I hope no one minds the trip down memory lane. Also, it is a bit macabre, but I think it is an important teachable moment. When I first started to learn Italian in the late 1990s (more than twenty years ago), I used to get frustrated, especially learning nouns. What I mean to say is, in English the chicken we eat at dinner and the animal clucking around the farm go by the same word: chicken. In Italian, you have a word for the animal - il gallo - and a word for the food in the supermarket that’s been killed, cleaned, and prepped for sale - il pollo. Yesterday, my friend in Palermo reminded me of this discussion we had several years ago. Apparently, we both theorised, Italian seems to enjoy having words to describe similar things when they are both dead and living. I did not do any research to see if this is true, but I think this is not uncommon in many languages. My friend shared with me the word "la salma". "La salma" is a word I hadn’t heard before, and it means "body" (as in a corpse). It means body in a particular context, like when the body is no longer living or "defunto". "Il corpo" refers to "a living body". So if you are describing your own body or someone else’s, don’t use "la salma". The TL;DR version of all this: Keep in mind when you are looking up words in the dictionary that, if you find several ways to say the same thing, these words are synonyms and not referring different states of being (like the chicken).

Answer 110

→ to cry like a baby Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression, "piangere come un vitello", which means "to cry like a baby". a. Mentre mio zio pelava le patate si è tagliato un dito. Per fortuna niente di grave, però si è messo a piangere come un vitello dal dolore. Non ho mai visto piangere un adulto così! → While my uncle was peeling potatoes, he cut his finger. Luckily, it wasn't serious, but he began to cry like a baby from the pain. I have never seen an adult cry so!

Answer 111

→ sticky; clingy, needy Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, "appiccicoso", which means "sticky". When describing people, it means "clingy" or "needy". a. I dolci che ho comprato in panetteria sono troppo appiccicosi e adesso le mani sono sporche! Come mai mettono tutto quel miele sopra? Mi si sporcano sempre le mani! → The desserts that I bought at the bakery are too sticky, and now my hands are dirty! How come they put all that honey on top? They always get my hands dirty!

Answer 112

→ the first cold blast of the winter season Today's Parola del Giorno is the plural noun "i primi freddi", which means "the first cold blast of the winter season". Now living in Florida, "i primi freddi" are not much of a problem, but as autumn approaches for many of us, it can be a useful word to know! a. A Boston - almeno - il mese di novembre vuol dire una cosa: i primi freddi della stagione con le temperature molto vicine al punto di congelamento. Adesso comincio a contare i giorni prima che arrivi la primavera! → In Boston - at least - the month of November means one thing: the first cold weather of the season with temperature very near freezing. Now I am starting to count the days until spring arrives!

Answer 113

→ to be cut from the same cloth Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression "essere della stessa pasta", which means "to be cut from the same cloth". It literally means to be from the same pasta. a. Loris e suo figlio sono proprio della stessa pasta: a entrambi piacciono le gare di Formula Uno ed ogni anno vanno a vedere la Ferrari quando la corsa si tiene vicino casa loro, a Imola. → Loris and his son are really cut from the same cloth: both like Formula One races, and every year they go see Ferrari when the race takes place near their home in Imola.

Answer 114

→ topped - when referring to pizza (to refer to the toppings placed on the pizza) Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective "farcito¹", which, when referring to pizza, means "topped" (to refer to the toppings placed on the pizza). In the US, we pretty much throw everything but the kitchen sink on top of our pizzas. In Italy, the best pizzerias put only the freshest and most appropriate ingredients on a pizza. a. Oggi, la pizza è diventata talmente popolare che c'è molta competizione fra le pizzerie. Ognuno cerca di attirare nuovi clienti con pizze farcite nel modo più originale e gustoso: salmone, fichi, ricotta, ananas sono solo alcuni degli ingredienti non convenzionali che oggi possiamo trovare sulle pizze di tutto il mondo. → Today pizza has become so popular that there is a lot of competition among the pizzerias. Each tries to attract new customers with pizzas topped in the most original and delicious way: salmon, figs, ricotta, pineapple are only some of the unconventional ingredients that today we can find on pizzas all over the world. 1 Farcito can also mean stuffed (such as olives, meat, etc.) or filled (when talking about pastries/sweets) 2 In Rome, a pizza topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and anchovies is called "la pizza napoletana" but in Naples, it is called "la pizza romana"!

Answer 115

→ a gadget, a contraption Today's Parola del Giorno is another of my favorites because it is so fun to say: l'aggeggio. It means "gadget" or "contraption". a. Ogni volta che uso il cellulare davanti a mia nonna, lei mi rimprovera dicendo: “Ma la smetti di usare in continuazione quell'aggeggio? Cosa ci trovi di bello!” → Every time I use my mobile in front of my grandmother, she yells at me saying: "But do you ever stop continually using that contraption ? What do you find so interesting on there!"

Answer 116

→ to demagnetise Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb "smagnetizzare", which means "to demagnetise". The past participle is "smagnetizzato". When the verb is pronominal (used like a reflexive verb, smagnetizzarsi), it means to become demagnetised. a. È la seconda volta questo mese che provo a prelevare denaro al bancomat ma non ci riesco. Forse mi si è smagnetizzata la carta di credito. → It is the second time this month that I have tried to get money from the ATM, but I can't. Perhaps my credit card has become demagnetised.

Answer 117

Il fine settimana → the weekend In Italian, you can talk about the weekend using the English word "il weekend". Or you can use the expression "il fine settimana", which also means "the weekend". Most of the dictionaries I consulted (Treccani, Zanichelli, Oxford) note that you can also say "la fine settimana", but the masculine form is more common I am told. If you are interested in learning more about the grammar, you can find a short discussion at Treccani. The TL;DR version is that the masculine form is preferred.

Answer 118

→ complicated; complex Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, "macchinòso", which means "complicated" or "complex". a. La trama del film era un po' macchinosa ma nel complesso efficace. → The film's plot was a bit complicated but by and large effective.

Answer 119

→ loquacious; talkative Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, "loquàce", which means "loquacious" or "talkative". a. Giovanni è un tipo molto loquace. Parlerebbe per ore intere senza fermarsi mai! → Giovanni is a very loquacious person. He would talk for whole hours without ever stopping!

Answer 120

→ dishes that are a huge mishmash of ingredients (maybe salmangundi, gallimaufry, smorgasbord, an olla podrida?) Today’s Parola del giorno is a bit of Italian slang that was made famous on the TV show MasterChef Italia. The noun, "il mappazzone¹ ", refers to dishes that are just a huge mishmash of ingredients that the dishes have no discernible character. We might call it complete slop in English. 1 You might also hear the word la mappazza, too.

Answer 121

→ rattlesnake Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, "il serpente a sonagli", which means "rattlesnake". a. La Guardia Forestale ha catturato un serpente a sonagli che spaventava i visitatori al parco. → The Forest Rangers captured a rattlesnake that was scaring visitors at the park.

Answer 122

→ hot-air balloon Today's Parola del giorno is the noun, "la mongolfiera", which means "hot-air balloon". a. "Guarda!" ha esclamato mio figlio. "C'è una mongolfiera in cielo! Che bella!" → "Look!" exclaimed my son. "There's a hot-air balloon in the sky! How beautiful!"

Answer 123

→ slot machine (also "la macchinetta mangiasoldi" or "la slot machine") Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, "la macchina mangiasoldi", which means "slot machine". It literally translates as "money-eating machine". The adjective, "mangiasoldi", is always invariable. You might also see "la macchinetta mangiasoldi" for slot machine, or you might also see the English word — la slot machine — used, too. a. A mia nonna piace andare al casinò con le sue amiche. Lo scorso weekend ha giocato alle macchine mangiasoldi e ha vinto 1000 dollari! → My grandmother likes to go to the casino with her friends. Last weekend she played the slots and won 1000 dollars!

Answer 124

→ smashed, drunk, plastered Today’s Parola del Giorno is the adjective “sbronzo”, which means “smashed”, “drunk” or “plastered”. a. I tifosi erano tutti sbronzi dopo la partita di calcio.Tutti camminavano storti mentre tentavano di tornare a casa. → The fans were so plastered after the football match. Everyone was walking unsteadily while they were trying to get home.

Answer 125

→ to unbutton something Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb “sbottonare”, which means “to unbutton something”. a. Ho comprato questi jeans con i bottoni ma il problema è che non riesco a sbottonarli velocemente! Una volta, tornando a casa, mi sono quasi fatto la pipì addosso! → I bought these button-down jeans, but the problem is that I can’t unbutton them quickly! Once while returning home I almost wet my pants!

Answer 126

→ to streamline bureaucratic procedures Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb “sburocratizzare”, which means “to streamline bureaucratic procedures”. Anyone who has ever lived (or even traveled to Italy) knows that dealing with Italian ‘red-tape’ can be daunting for those who are not used to the complexity! a. Gli italiani ridono quando gli americani si lamentano della burocrazia italiana. Sembra che ogni americano abbia un’idea brillante per sburocratizzare il Bel Paese ma la realtà è diversa! → Italians laugh when Americans complain about the Italian bureaucracy. It seems every American has some brilliant idea to streamline bureaucratic procedures in Italy, but reality is different!

Answer 127

→ to yawn Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb “sbadigliare”, which means “to yawn”. The Past Participle is “sbadigliato”. “Avere” is used in compound tenses. a. Le lezioni della Professoressa Martini sono noiosissime! Lei non sopporta gli studenti che sbadigliano mentre parla ma quando comincia a parlare di argomenti banali ho solo voglia di dormire! → Professor Martini’s lesson is very, very boring! She can’t stand students who yawn while she talks, but when she begins talking about dull topics my only desire is to sleep.

Answer 128

→ to say one’s piece Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “dire la propria”, which means “to say one’s piece”. “To say one’s piece” means to express one’s opinion about something. a. Durante la riunione, Cristina ha interrotto la sua collega Marina mentre tentava di spiegare un problema. Cristina era molto infastidita dalla lamentele di Marina ma lei continuava a parlare: voleva dire la propria! → During the meeting, Cristina interrupted her colleague Marina while she was trying to explain a problem. Cristina was very annoyed by Marina’s complaints, but she continued to speak: she wanted to say her piece!

Answer 129

→ to find fault (with someone / something) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “trovare da dire (su + qualcuno/qualcosa)”, which means “to find fault (with someone/something). a. Se mia madre decide di farmi le pulci, trova sempre da dire su di me o su mia moglie! Voglio bene a mia madre (e spero che anche mia moglie gliene voglia), ma a volte è troppo! → If my mother decides to nitpick me, she always finds fault with me or or my wife. I love my mother (and I hope my wife does, too), but it is too much at times.

Answer 130

→ to mean Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression “voler dire”, which means “to mean”. Note how in the third person singular of the present tense (see below) that the “-e” is often left off (vuol dire). a. Senti, non capisco questa ricetta. Puoi aiutarmi? Perché non so cosa fare. Cosa vuol dire questo? → Listen, I don’t under this recipe. Can you help me? Because I do not know what to do. What does this mean?

Answer 131

→ to rain Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb “piovere”, which means “to rain”. Either “avere” or “essere” can be used in Compound Tenses. a. Mio nonno ci raccontava sempre che un’estate, quando lui era bambino, piovve per tre mesi di seguito. Ogni volta che ci raccontava questa storia, diceva sempre che non aveva mai visto tanta acqua in vita sua! → My grandfather always used to tell us that one summer, when he was a child, it rained for three months straight. Every time he would tell us this story, he used to always say that he had never seen so much water in his life!

Answer 132

→ to snow Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb “nevicare”, which means “to snow”. The word for snow is “la neve”. You can use either “essere” or “avere” in Compound Tenses. a. Questo inverno è nevicato moltissimo. Gli albergatori in montagna erano molto contenti perché la stagione sciistica è andata alla grande. → This winter it snowed a lot. The hotel owners in the mountains were very happy because the ski season was great.

Answer 133

→ to thunder Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "tuonare", which means "to thunder". The verb "tuonare" can take either "avere" or "essere" in compound tenses. a. Sentite come tuona! Rientramo in casa, a breve verrà giù il diluvio → Listen to how it is thundering! Get back in the house, it will pour down shortly.

Answer 134

→ to rain Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "piovere", which means "to rain". Either "avere" or "essere" can be used in compound tenses. a. Mio nonno ci raccontava sempre che un’estate, quando lui era bambino, piovve per tre mesi di seguito. Ogni volta che ci raccontava questa storia, diceva sempre che non aveva mai visto tanta acqua in vita sua! → My grandfather always used to tell us that one summer, when he was a child, it rained for three months straight. Every time he would tell us this story, he used to always say that he had never seen so much water in his life!

Answer 135

→ to stop raining Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "spiovere", which means "to stop raining". The past participle is "spiovuto". a. Anna doveva portare fuori la spazzatura ma voleva aspettare che spiovesse perché non voleva bagnarsi il vestito nuovo. → Anna had to take the trash out, but she wanted to wait for it to stop raining because she did not want to get her new dress wet.

Answer 136

→ to hail Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "grandinare", which means "to hail (down)". A caveat with this verb: the stress, when conjugated in the simple present, is on the first syllable (not the next to last): grAndina → It is hailing. a. Durante i temporali estivi in Italia, spesso grandina. Negli ultimi anni, la grandine è sempre più grande e pericolosa. Alcuni video mostrano chicchi di grandine grandi come sassi! → During the summer storms in Italy, it often hails. In the last years, the hail is always bigger and more dangerous. Some videos show hailstones as big as stones! NB: 1 la grandine → hail 2 il chicco di grandine → hailstone

Answer 137

→ There is lightning when used in the third-person singular (lampeggia) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "lampeggiare", which translates as "There is lightning" when used in the third-person singular. a. Bambini, entrate subito in casa! Non vedete che sta lampeggiando? I lampi sono molto pericolosi! → Children, get inside immediately. Can’t you see there is lightning? Lightning is very dangerous! NB: Be careful that you do not confuse "lampeggiare" with "fulminare". The first verb means mean that the lightning is lighting up the sky, while the second refers to lightning that is striking something on Earth.

Answer 138

→ to get/grow dark(er) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "imbrunire", which means "to get/grow dark(er)". This "-ire" verb is also an "-isc-" verb. Remember that these verbs are used only in the third person (la terza persona)! a. Dopo l’estate, le giornate si accorciano velocemente e ogni giorno imbrunisce sempre prima del precedente. Che tristezza! → After the summer is over, the days get shorter quickly, and every day always gets darker than the one before it. How sad!

Answer 139

→ to pour (down) This week’s theme is going to feature a class of verbs called "Verbi Atmosferici" or "Weather Verbs". These verbs are typically used in the THIRD person singular, but, as always with languages, there are exceptions. You are probably familiar with the verbs "piovere" (to rain) and "nevicare" (to snow). This week will feature some others that will be useful as you expand your Italian vocabulary! Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "diluviare", which means "to pour (down)". You can use either "avere" or "essere" in compound tenses! a. Mi ha telefonato mia madre stamattina perché ha visto che ha diluviato e voleva sapere se io avessi avuto problemi con tutta quella pioggia mentre ero in strada. → My mother phoned me this morning because she saw it poured down and wanted to know if I had any problems with all that rain while I was on the road. NB: It should be noted that many of these “weather verbs” can be used figuratively. For example, "diluviare" can also be used in this manner: a. Gli insulti diluviavano! → The insults were raining down!

Answer 140

→ to load the dishwasher Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression "caricare la lavastoviglie", which means "to load the dishwasher". a. Grazie a Dio quest’appartamento ha una lavastoviglie. Certo, caricare la lavastoviglie è una palla ma è sempre meglio che strofinare i piatti a mano. → Thank God this apartment has a dishwasher. Of course, loading the dishwasher is a pain, but it is always better than scrubbing the dishes by hand.

Answer 141

→ to scrape together Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "racimolare", which means "to scrape together". a. Marianna non vede l’ora di ricevere la busta paga! Per lei, questa è stata una settimana economicamente difficile. Oggi doveva racimolare gli spicci per comprarsi il biglietto per la metro. → Marianna can’t wait to get paid! This has been a very difficult week for her economically. Today, she had to scrape together change to buy herself the ticket for the subway.

Answer 142

→ packed ice Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "la banchisa", which means "pack ice". a. L’orso polare inseguiva la foca sulla banchisa, stava quasi per prenderla quando la foca trovò un buco nel ghiaccio, ci si infilò e si mise in salvo. → The polar bear was following the seal on the pack ice and was almost about to get it when the seal found a hole in the ice and slipped through it and saved itself.

Answer 143

→ at half-mast Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression "a mezz’asta", which means "at half-mast". When a flag flies at half-mast, it usually signifies that someone has passed away or is lowered as a sign of respect, depending on the country and circumstance. a. In segno di lutto per la morte del Presidente della Repubblica, le bandiere di tutti gli uffici pubblici non sventoleranno alte ma sventoleranno a mezz’asta. → As a sign of mourning due to the death of the President of the Republic, the flags of all public offices will not fly high but at half-mast.

Answer 144

→ a tear Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "la lacrima", which means "a tear". a. La mamma disse alla figlia che piangeva perché il fidanzato di lei l’aveva lasciata: “Non piangere tesoro, lui non merita le tue lacrime!” → The mother told her daughter, who was crying because the daughter’s boyfriend had dumped her: “Don’t cry, dear, he does not deserve your tears!”

Answer 145

→ to go on patrol; to scout out Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression "andare in perlustrazione", which means "to go on patrol" or "to scout out". a. Mario, ti ricordi quando da bambini adammo in perlustrazione della casa abbandonata sulla collina? Avevo una paura incredibile che ci fossero i fantasmi! → Mario, do you remember when we were kinds and we scouted out that abandoned house on the hill? I was very afraid that there might have been ghosts!

Answer 146

→ stunning, incredible; staggering (of prices) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the adjective "sbalorditivo", which can mean "stunning" or "incredible". It can also mean "staggering" when referring to prices. a. Il risultato della squadra cittadina di calcio è stato sbalorditivo! Hanno battuto 6-0 i campioni dello scorso anno, bravi ragazzi! → The local soccer team’s results were incredible! They beat last year’s champions 6-0, well done guys!

Answer 147

→ to skyrocket; to shoot up Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression "arrivare alle stelle", which means "to skyrocket" or "to shoot up". a. I prezzi degli smartphone sono arrivati alle stelle! Volevo comprare un nuovo telefono, ma non ho 600 Euro da spendere! → Smartphone prices have skyrocketed! I wanted to buy a new phone but do not have 600 euro to spend!

Answer 148

→ red hot; scorching Today’s Parola del Giorno is the adjective "rovente", which means "red hot" or "scorching". a. Per rosolare bene la carne, assicuratevi che la padella sia rovente, in questo modo sigillerete tutta la superficie della carne e i succhi rimarranno all’interno. → In to brown meat well, make sure the frying pan is red hot so that you sear the entire surface of the mean and the juices remain inside.

Answer 149

→ to strengthen; to get stronger Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "rafforzarsi", which means "to strengthen" or "to get stronger". a. Dopo l’annuncio della Fed di nuove misure per combattere la crisi economica, il dollaro si è subito rafforzato. → After the Fed announced new measures to combat the recession, the dollar immediately got stronger.

Answer 150

→ to tumble, to plunge, to fall Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "crollare", which means "to tumble", "to plunge" or "to fall". a. Mio zio è andato dal medico in questi giorni. Il medico gli ha raccomandato di smettere di fumare e gli ha detto di camminare di più perché il rischio di cancro crolla con un po’ di attività fisica. → My uncle recently went to the doctor. The doctor recommended that he stop smoking and told him to walk more because the risk of cancer plunges with some physical activity.

Answer 151

→ in a great hurry; in a mad dash Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression "in fretta e furia", which means "in a great hurry" or "in a mad rush". a. Oggi avrei tanto voluto parlare con Carla della riunione di domani ma si è fermata in ufficio solo per 3 minuti e poi è uscita in fretta e furia: doveva portare i figli in piscina ed era in ritardo. → Today I would have wanted to talk with Carla about tomorrow’s meeting, but she stopped at the office for only 3 minutes and then left in a mad rush: she had to bring her children to the pool, and she was late.

Answer 152

→ a moat; a trench Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "il fossato", which means "a moat" or "a trench". a. Quando si guarda un film ambientato nel Medioevo, tutti i castelli hanno sempre un fossato profondo che contiene un mostro a difesa del cancello della fortezza! → When you see a film set in the Middle Ages, all of the castles always have a deep moat that contains a monster to defend the fortress gate!

Answer 153

→ a juicer Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "la centrifuga", which means "a juicer". a. Poiché ho due lavori e sono sempre impegnato, mi è difficile mangiare bene. Mia moglie ha quindi suggerito che compriamo una centrifuga per mangiare tutta la frutta e la verdura che raccomandano gli esperti. → Since I have two jobs and am always busy, it is difficult for me to eat well. My wife then suggested we buy a juicer in order to get all the fruit and vegetables experts recommend.

Answer 154

→ unemployed Today’s Parola del Giorno is the adjective "disoccupato", which means "unemployed". a. La crisi economica in Italia è così grave che molti giovani non hanno un lavoro e sono disoccupati da anni. → The recession in Italy is so serious that many young people do not have a job and have been unemployed for years.

Answer 155

→ to fire, to give (someone) the sack; to lay [somebody] off Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "licenziare", which means "to fire, to give (someone) the sack" or "to lay (somebody) off". The past participle is "licenziato". "Avere" is used in compound tenses. a. A causa dello scarso lavoro, il titolare dell’azienda ha dovuto licenziare tre dei suoi sette dipendenti perché non poteva più pagargli lo stipendio → Because of the lack of work, the owner of the company had to lay off three of his seven employees because he could not pay their salary anymore.

Answer 156

→ to give one’s notice; to resign Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression "dare le dimissioni", which means "to give one’s notice" or "to resign". a. Se vuoi dare le dimissioni, devi farlo con un mese di anticipo, così il tuo capo può iniziare a cercare un sostituto. → If you want to give your notice, you have to do it a month before so your boss can begin to look for a replacement.

Answer 157

→ a resumé and an interview One of the most frequently received emails I receive is from individuals asking me how to say “resumé” (curriculum vitae) or “interview” in Italian! This post should help clear up some confusion that many readers have. Today’s Parole del Giorno are the words "il curriculum" and "il colloquio", which mean "a resumé" and "an interview", respectively. a. Ottenere questo nuovo lavoro è stato più veloce di quanto pensassi: ho inviato il mio curriculum una settimana fa, l’altro ieri ho fatto il colloquio con il responsabile delle risorse umane e oggi ho firmato il contratto! → Getting this new job was quicker than I thought: I sent my resumé a week ago, and the other day I had an interview with the person in charge of human resources, and today I signed the contract! FALSE FRIEND! The word "l’intervista" means "an interview", but it refers to an interview done for the news, radio or TV!

Answer 158

→ to quit; to resign Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "dimettersi", which means "to quit" or "to resign". You will encounter this verb a lot in the media, especially when reading articles or listening to news reports on politics and/or business. a. Adele non ne poteva più del suo lavoro e la settimana scorsa si è dimessa: adesso sta pensando di trasferirsi all’estero e cominciare una nuova vita. → Adele couldn’t stand her job anymore, and she resigned last week: now she is thinking about moving overseas and starting a new life.

Answer 159

→ the domino effect Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun expression "l’effetto domino", which means "the domino effect". a. I governi europei hanno paura che il referendum inglese dia inizio a un effetto domino e un paese dopo l’altro vorrà scappare dall’Unione Europea. → European government are afraid that the British referendum will start a domino effect, and one country after another will want to flee from the European Union.

Answer 160

→ a fight; a brawl Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "la rissa", which means "a fight" or "a brawl". a. Con tutti i problemi che accadono adesso alle partite di calcio, i miei amici preferiscono non assistere. L’ultima volta c’è stata una rissa fra i tifosi, e la mia amica Marianna è rimasta ferita da una bottiglia. → With all the problems that happen at soccer games, my friends prefer not to go. The last time there was a brawl between the fans, and my friend Marianna was injured by a bottle.

Answer 161

→ to hack (of IT systems) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb "hackerare", which means "to hack". This verb is seen regularly in the news when information from a government or person’s computer/computer system is stolen. a. Il sito del governo è stato hackerato, per 24 ore nessuno poteva più accedere alla propria pagina personale. → The government web site has been hacked, and for 24 hours no one could access any longer their own personal web page.

Answer 162

→ obstruction of justice Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun phrase "l’intralcio alla giustizia", which means "obstruction of justice". The expression literally means obstruction/hindrance to justice. a. La signora si rifutava di dire alla polizia dove fosse scappato il marito che una settimana prima aveva rapinato una banca. Alla fine, è stata mandata in prigione lei per intralcio alla giustizia! → The woman refused to tell police where he husband might have fled because a week ago he had robbed a bank. In the end, she was sent to prison for obstruction of justice.

Answer 163

→ a signature Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "la firma" (plural: le firme), which means "a signature". "La firma" come from the verb "firmare", which means "to sign". You can see the noun used below: a. Caspita! La petizione per un nuovo referendum in Inghilterra ha superato i 2 milioni di firme! Secondo te, ci sarà un altro referendum? → Wow! The petition for a new referendum in England has surpassed the 2 million signatures needed. In your opinion, there will be another referendum?

Answer 164

→ a mayor (of a city) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "il sindaco/la sindaca", which means "a mayor". Recently in Torino and Roma, both elected their first female mayors to hold the office. The election and victories of these two women have set off a linguistic firestorm in Italy – you can read about that here (it’s just in Italian, I’m afraid, but it will be good practice!). According to the Accademia della Crusca, which acts as a steward to the Italian language, states that the use of feminine nouns is preferred over forms like "la sindaco". a. Ogni città ha un sindaco o una sindaca che governa la città e ne dirige gli affari giornalieri. Di recente, Roma ha avuto le elezioni e i suoi cittadini hanno votato una signora per la carica. → Every city has a male or female mayor who governs the city and runs its daily affairs. Recently, Rome had elections, and its citizens voted for a woman to hold the post.

Answer 165

→ to cancel an appointment Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression "disdire un appuntamento", which means "to cancel an appointment". a. Claudia aveva fissato un appuntamento con l’agente immobiliare per questo fine settimana ma ieri l’agente le ha telefonato e ha disdetto l’appuntamento. Non potrà vedere la casa che ha intenzione di comprare prima della settimana prossima. → Claudia made an appointment with the real estate agent for this weekend, but yesterday the agent phoned her and cancelled the appointment. She will not be able to see the house that she intends to buy before next weekend.

Answer 166

→ frequently asked questions Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun expression "le domande frequenti", which means "frequently asked questions". Many web sites all over the world will have FAQ’s or frequently asked question pages that can help answer some routine questions that web sites and other companies/organisations typically receive. a. Se hai dubbi su come inoltrare la tua domanda di partecipiazione al concorso, leggi la sezione dedicata alle domande frequenti sul sito: in genere, molti dubbi si risolvono leggendo quelle risposte. → If you have doubts on how to send on your question about participating in the competitive entrance exam, read the section dedicated to the frequently asked questions on the site: generally, many questions can be answered reading those responses.

Answer 167

→ to make a doctor’s appointment Today’s Parola del Giorno is the expression "prenotare una visita", which means "to make a doctor’s appointment". The noun "la visita" can mean "a doctor’s visit" or "a medical examination". Remember that in Italian, the verb "visitare" can mean "to visit", but, when used with people, to see or to call on a patient. To express visiting a friend or relative, use "andare or venire a trovare qualcuno". a. Ho prenotato una visita dall’oculista per lunedi prossimo. Voglio farmi controllare la vista, mi sembra che non vedo più bene come prima. → I made a doctor’s appointment at the ophthalmologist for next Monday. I want to get checked out, I don’t seem to see as well as before.

Answer 168

→ a rescue Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "il salvataggio", which means "a rescue". In some contexts, it can also mean salvage. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, it was important to begin the rescue immediately. See the word used below in its context: a. Oltre al salvataggio delle persone dopo il terremoto, anche il salvataggio degli animali dalle macerie è stato tempestivo. → Besides the rescue of people after the earthquake, the rescue of animals from the rubble has been timely.

Answer 169

→ a (structural) fault Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "la faglia", which means "a fault". Faults are the cause of most earthquakes. a. Gli studiosi stanno cercando di determinare la lunghezza della faglia dell’ultimo terremoto ma sembrerebbe che sia molto lunga, vista la violenza del terremoto. → The scientists are trying to determine the length of the fault of the last earthquake, but it would seem that it is very long given the force of the earthquake.

Answer 170

→ aftershocks (of an earthquake) Today’s Parola del Giorno is the plural noun "le repliche", which means "aftershocks". An aftershock is a tremor that follows the main earthquake event. a. Ci sono state numerose repliche delle scosse dopo l’ultimo terremoto: fortunatamente le repliche sono state molto meno violente di quella principale. → There have been numerous aftershocks after the last earthquake: the aftershocks luckily have been much less damaging than the initial tremor.

Answer 171

→ (a) fund-raising Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun "la raccolta fondi", which means "fund-raising". a. Nelle ore successive al forte terremoto, la popolazione nazionale e quella di altri Paesi hanno avviato una raccolta fondi per aiutare i superstiti e i familiari delle vittime. Finora stanno raccogliendo parecchi soldi. → In the last hours of the strong earthquake, the whole country and other countries began fund-raising in order to help survivors and family members of victims. Thus far they are collecting quite a bit of money.

Answer 172

→ a wedding Today’s Parola del Giorno is the plural noun "le nozze", which means "a wedding". The noun "le nozze" is one of the "pluralia tantum", which means that while the noun is plural the meaning is singular. Other nouns such as "forbici", "mutande", "pantaloni", "redini", "condoglianze", and "occhiali" fall into this category. a. I miei migliori amici mi hanno appena comunicato che si sposeranno dopo cinque anni di fidanzamento. La data delle nozze è il prossimo maggio e non vedo l’ora che arrivi! → My best friends just informed me that they will be getting married after being engaged for five years. The wedding date is next May, and I can’t wait for it to arrive!

Answer 173

→ to throw the bouquet of flowers Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression "lanciare il bouquet di fiori", which means "to throw the bouquet of flowers". At weddings, the person who catches the bouquet thrown by the bride will be the next to marry. a. Dopo essersi sposata, Vanessa ha lanciato il bouquet di fiori alla sua sinistra ma non si è accorta che le ragazze erano tutte sulla sua destra: nessuna ha preso il bouquet! → After getting married, Vanessa threw the bouquet of flowers to her left, but she didn’t realize all the girls were all on the right: no one caught the bouquet!

Answer 174

→ to make a mess of oneself; to spill on oneself Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb "sbrodolarsi", which means "to make a mess of oneself" or "to spill on oneself." It is used to describe a situation where you soil yourself with some kind of liquid or liquidy foods, like broths, sauces, etc. The verb is derived from the noun "il brodo", which means "broth" or "stock". a. Mio figlio sta imparando a mangiare da solo ma ancora non ci riesce perfettamente: appena porta il cucchiaio alla bocca, si sbrodola il suo vestitino con la minestra. → My son is learning to eat by himself, but he is still not about to do it perfectly: as soon as he brings the spoon to his mouth, he makes a mess of his clothes with the soup.

1 Parola del Giorno Words (1) (completo) Flashcards

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