Six fish idioms in Italian

Italian is very rich in idiomatic expressions. Idioms are a group of words in a fixed order that have a specific meaning, that is different from the meaning each single word has if taken in its own. Because of this, understanding idioms can sometimes be difficult. So, today I’d like to list and explain six fish idioms in Italian.

Fish idioms

Buttarsi a pesce

The first of these fish idioms in Italian is buttarsi a pesce. It literally means to throw yourself like a fish. Idiomatically, this Italian idiom can have at least two meanings. It can mean to dedicate yourself to something with great enthusiasm, and it can also mean to take advantage of an opportunity.

Examples:

a. Mi sono buttata a pesce nello studio del tedesco. E’ una lingua bellissima!

I threw myself into studying German. It is a beautiful language!

b. Ha visto una possibilità di guadagno e si è buttato a pesce nell’affare.

He saw an opportunity to make a profit and threw himself into the deal.

c. Dovevi vedere Paolo e Renato, si sono buttati a pesce sul buffet!

You should have seen Paolo and Renato, they pounced on the buffet and devoured it hungrily!

d. Quando ci hanno detto che il prezzo della villa era sceso da 350.000 a 290.000 euro ci siamo buttati a pesce e abbiamo fatto un’offerta.

When they told us that the price of the villa had dropped from 350,000 to 290,000 euros, we grab the opportunity and made an offer.

Sentirsi/essere un pesce fuor d’acqua

Sentirsi or essere un pesce fuor d’acqua literally means to feel or be a fish out of water. Idiomatically this Italian idiom about fish means to be uncomfortable. It can be used when you feel you’re out of place.

Examples:

e. In mezzo a tutte quelle persone altolocate mi sono sentito come un pesce fuor d’acqua

In the midst of all those high-ranking people, I felt like a fish out of water

f. Lucia era come un pesce fuor d’acqua, poverina era l’unica alla festa ad indossare un costume.

Lucia was like a fish out of water, the poor thing was the only one at the party wearing a costume.

Essere un pesce grosso

Essere un pesce grosso literally means to be a big fish. Idiomatically, this Italian expression means to be an important, powerful, influential person. It’s particularly used when talking about criminals.

Examples:

g. Dobbiamo cercare di incastrare Lo Russo è lui il pesce grosso!

We must try to frame Lo Russo, he is the big fish!

h. Questo non è un pesce grosso, è solo uno dei tanti scagnozzi di Lo Russo.

This isn’t a big fish, he’s just one of Lo Russo’s many henchmen.

Essere un pesce piccolo

The fourth of the fish idioms in Italian in this list is essere un pesce piccolo. It literally means to be a small fish. Idiomatically, this Italian expression means not to be an important, powerful, influential person.

Examples:

i. Questo è un pesce piccolo, è Lo Russo che dobbiamo incastrare

This is a small fish, it is Lo Russo that we need to frame

l. Non vale la pena impegnarsi tanto per arrestare Baraggiolo, lui è solo un pesce piccolo.

It is not worth doing so much to arrest Baraggiolo, he is just a small fish.

Trattare a pesci in faccia

Trattare a pesci in faccia literally means to treat with fish in the face. Idiomatically, this Italian expression means to treat someone badly.

Examples:

m. Sono andata da lui per scusarmi ma quando mi ha vista, mi ha trattata a pesci in faccia

I went to him to apologize but when he saw me, he treated me badly

n. Lei dice che l’ho tratta male ma io non ho mai trattato nessuno a pesci in faccia in vita mia!

She says that I treated her badly but I have never treated anyone badly in my life!

Non sapere che pesci pigliare

Non sapere che pesci pigliare literally means not to know which fish to catch. Idiomatically, this Italian idiom about fish means not knowing what to do, not knowing what to choose, or being undecided.

Examples:

o. Mio figlio non vuole più proseguire gli studi e io non so proprio che pesci pigliare con lui

My son doesn’t want to continue his studies and I really don’t know what to do with him

p. Paolo e Enrico hanno scoperto che Elisa tradisce il loro fratello e adesso loro non sanno che pesci pigliare.

Paolo and Enrico have discovered that Elisa is cheating on their brother and now they don’t know what to do.

If you found these fish idioms in Italian interesting, don’t forget to share this article or to like our Facebook page!

---

Credits

Original image by GLady