Italian grammar
Stessa idea, immagine diversa: piove a catinelle, la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso, mettere il becco, darsi una mossa
Understand idioms whose English equivalent uses a different image.
From the scene Lost in translation
In short
Same idea, different image: piove a catinelle, la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso, mettere il becco.
Your turn
Which one goes with the straw that broke the camel's back?
Options: mettere il becco dappertutto · la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso · piove a catinelle
Show answer
the straw that broke the camel's back → la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso
How it works
Many idioms exist in both languages with a different image: in Italian it rains by the basinful (a catinelle), in English it rains cats and dogs.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Primo dubbio: "pioveva a (blank)". Come lo dice un inglese?
Options: catinelle · cani · gocce
Show answer
Primo dubbio: "pioveva a catinelle". Come lo dice un inglese?
First question: "it was raining by the bucketful". How would an English person say it?
Good to know
A drop overflows the vase where English breaks a camel's back; Italians stick in their beak (il becco) where English pokes its nose.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
E alla fine dice: "Devo darmi una (blank). Il libro esce a maggio."
Options: catinella · mossa · goccia
Show answer
E alla fine dice: "Devo darmi una mossa. Il libro esce a maggio."
And at the end she says: "I have to get a move on. The book comes out in May."
Good to know
Learn the whole idiom and its meaning, and never translate it word for word.
it's raining cats and dogs piove a catinelle
the straw that broke the camel's back la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso
Nuria
Secondo: "la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso". Quale goccia?
Second: "the drop that makes the glass overflow". What drop?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Secondo: "(blank)". Quale goccia?
Options: mettere il becco dappertutto · la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso · piove a catinelle
Show answer
Nuria
Secondo: "la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso". Quale goccia?
Second: "the drop that makes the glass overflow". What drop?
to poke your nose in everywhere mettere il becco dappertutto
Nuria
Terzo: "mettere il becco dappertutto".
Third: "to stick your beak in everywhere".
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Terzo: "(blank)".
Options: piove a catinelle · la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso · mettere il becco dappertutto
Show answer
Nuria
Terzo: "mettere il becco dappertutto".
Third: "to stick your beak in everywhere".
to get your act together darsi una mossa
Your turn
What goes with darsi una mossa?
Options: the straw that broke the camel's back · to get your act together · it's raining cats and dogs
Show answer
darsi una mossa → to get your act together
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| it's raining cats and dogs | piove a catinelle |
|---|---|
| the straw that broke the camel's back | la goccia che fa traboccare il vaso |
| to poke your nose in everywhere | mettere il becco dappertutto |
| to get your act together | darsi una mossa |
More lines from the story
- NuriaPrimo dubbio: "pioveva a catinelle". Come lo dice un inglese?First question: "it was raining by the bucketful". How would an English person say it?
- NuriaE alla fine dice: "Devo darmi una mossa. Il libro esce a maggio."And at the end she says: "I have to get a move on. The book comes out in May."
- ElenaIn inglese piovono cani e gatti. L'ho visto in un film.In English it rains cats and dogs. I saw it in a film.
- ElenaVuol dire immischiarsi dove nessuno ti chiama. Come Ramón in questo momento.That's poking your nose where it doesn't belong. Like Ramón right now.