L’Accademia — Cagliari · Lingua, vocabolario e cultura · 6 min di lettura
Italians don’t just love food at the table, they love it in their language too. Dozens of everyday expressions borrow from the kitchen, and if you translate them word for word, you’ll end up hopelessly confused. Here are 10 idioms that will make you sound like a native — the kind of thing you pick up fast once you’re actually speaking Italian every day, whether that’s in a classroom or during an in-person course in Cagliari.
1. Non è farina del suo sacco
Literal: “It’s not flour from his own sack.”
Meaning: it’s not his own work, he didn’t come up with it himself.
Used when someone takes credit for an idea, a joke, or a piece of writing that isn’t really theirs.
2. Avere le mani in pasta
Literal: “To have your hands in the dough.”
Meaning: to be involved in something, to have connections or influence.
If someone “ha le mani in pasta” in a certain field, they’re well connected and know how things work from the inside.
3. Rendere pan per focaccia
Literal: “To return bread for focaccia.”
Meaning: to get even, tit for tat.
Focaccia is considered a bit “better” than plain bread, so this idiom implies giving back exactly what you received, sometimes even a little more.
4. Avere sale in zucca
Literal: “To have salt in your pumpkin.”
Meaning: to be smart, to have common sense.
Salt shows up constantly in Italian food idioms, and this is one of the most common. Someone acting foolishly is often described as lacking exactly that: sale in zucca.
5. Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco
Literal: “Not all donuts come out with a hole.”
Meaning: not everything goes as planned.
A cheerful way of saying things don’t always work out perfectly, usually said with a shrug and a smile.
6. Fare il pesce in barile
Literal: “To play the fish in the barrel.”
Meaning: to play dumb, to avoid taking a position.
Used for someone who stays silent or evasive to avoid getting involved in an argument or a decision.
7. Cavolo!
Literal: “Cabbage!”
Meaning: a polite substitute for a much ruder word.
This is Italy’s version of “shoot!” or “darn!”, a mild exclamation of frustration that’s perfectly fine to use in front of your host family or your grandmother.
8. Mettere troppa carne al fuoco
Literal: “To put too much meat on the fire.”
Meaning: to take on too many things at once, to spread yourself too thin.
You’ll hear this one a lot in everyday conversation, usually as a gentle warning: don’t commit to more than you can actually handle.
9. Non è pane per i suoi denti
Literal: “It’s not bread for his teeth.”
Meaning: it’s too difficult for him, it’s beyond his abilities.
Used when a task, a book, or a challenge simply isn’t suited to someone’s current level or skill.
10. Tutto fa brodo
Literal: “Everything makes broth.”
Meaning: every little bit helps.
Just like a good broth can be made from odds and ends, this idiom means that even small contributions add up to something useful, including the ten minutes a day you spend practicing new expressions like these.
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Idioms like these rarely show up in textbooks, but they’re exactly what native speakers use every day. If you want to keep building this kind of everyday vocabulary from home, our online Italian courses are built around real, spoken Italian, not just grammar drills.
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