Italian idioms Last week, while I was idly spending some time reading here and there on the web, I happened to get on a site of english idoms. They are so much funny I laughed myself silly and then I thought "why don't I make a note on italki about some italian funny idioms?" And so here I am translating and explaining my favorite ones. - Portare l'acqua con le orecchie (Bring water to someone with one's ears) This say means to work for someone beyond any limit. To grant someone's every request. Es: Amano talmente loro figlioletta che LE PORTEREBBERO L'ACQUA CON LE ORECCHIE. (They love their little daughter so much they WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HER) - Una bella gatta da pelare (A nice cat to skin) To have a big trouble, a difficult situation. Es: I genitori della bambina farebbero bene a sperare che non diventi troppo viziata, altrimenti avranno UNA BELLA GATTA DA PELARE una volta che sarà cresciuta. (The little girl's parents better hope she won't turn out too much spoiled or they'll have BIG TROUBLES once she'll grow up.) - Avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca (To want one's barrel full and one's wife drunk) To expect to have everything, even things that are mutually exclusive. This one exemplifies by itself quite well, doesn't it? - Dare la birra [a qualcuno] (Give beer [to someone]) Unless you are in a pub or in a bar or anyhow receiving a glass of beer, if someone "ti sta dando la birra" (is giving you beer) it means you're being sorely beaten (as in defeated). Es: "Hai visto la gara di ieri?" "Marco HA DATO LA BIRRA a Davide!" ("Have you seen yesterday's race?" "Davide HAVE BEEN SORELY BEATEN by Marco") - Essere nel pallone (To be in the ball) Unlike you probably believe, given italians well known love for football, this say has nothing to do with sport. It means to be confused, to have difficulties to think clearly. The cause can be everything. Es: Parla più lentamente! Non riesco a capire la metà di ciò che dici e SONO NEL PALLONE! (Speak more slowly! I can't understand half of what you're saying and I'M CONFUSED!) - In zona Cesarini (In Cesarini's zone) Now, this one is football-related! It means at the last moment. Cesarini was an italian-argentine player known to score goals during the last few minutes of matches. This say can either refer to a football match or to everyday life. Es: "Si è ricordato di comprarle un regalo?" "Si, ma IN ZONA CESARINI" ("He remembered to buy her a gift?" "Yes, but AT THE LAST MOMENT") I hope you found this funny! Bye bye!