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LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Italian expression of the day: ‘A quattr’occhi’

Just between us, this phrase is a handy one to know.

Published: 29 March 2019 17:54 CET
Italian expression of the day: 'A quattr'occhi'
Photo: DepositPhotos

Psst. Over here. Don't mention anything, but today's phrase is for when you need a little bit of discretion.

A quattr'occhi means, literally, 'between four eyes' – in other words, 'between the two of us'.

It implies a meeting both in person and in private, making it 'face-to-face' and 'one-on-one' at the same time.

Devo parlarti a quattr’occhi.
I need to speak to you in private. 

Ero convinto sarebbe stato un colloquio a quattr'occhi.
I thought this was going to be a private conversation.

Ti dispiace se faccio una chiacchierata a quattr'occhi con il mio ragazzo?
Do you mind if I have a little tête-à-tête with my boyfriend?

It's not to be confused with quattrocchi, an irreverent term – 'four eyes' – for someone who wears glasses (and also the name of a bird and type of fish, apparently).

Quattrocchi also happens to be what Brainy Smurf was called in the Italian version of the cartoon (I Puffi), for reasons you can probably see for yourself. 

Do you have a favourite Italian word you'd like us to feature? If so, please email our editor Jessica Phelan with your suggestion.

 

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For members

ITALIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Italian word of the day: ‘Baffi’

You'll be licking your chops over this word.

Published: 16 May 2024 10:47 CEST
Italian word of the day: 'Baffi'

A word that can feel particularly satisfying to say in Italian is baffi: a moustache, or, on an animal, whiskers.

It takes the plural form in Italian, as it’s referring to the two halves of a moustache.

In fact English at one time did the same – moustache (which comes from the archaic Italian mostaccio) used to be used in the plural, but became standardised as singular in around the 19th century.

Ha dei baffi enormi.
He has an enormous moustache.

You don’t need impressive upper facial hair to talk about your baffi, though, as the word also features in certain everyday expressions.

Leccarsi i baffi is to lick your chops – if something is delicious or mouthwatering it’s da leccarsi i baffi.

Si stavano leccando i baffi.
They were licking their chops.

Ha preparato una cena da leccarsi i baffi.
He’s made a mouthwatering dinner.

Buonp Buonissimo Delizioso Da Leccarsi I Baffi Simpson Ned Flunders GIF - Yummy So Good Moustache GIFs
Source: Tenor

And ridere sotto i baffi (‘to laugh under your moustache’) is to laugh or snicker under your breath.

Ti ho visto ridere sotto i baffi.
I saw you snickering.

La smettete di ridere sotto i baffi!
Wipe those smirks off your faces!

The next time you want to express appreciation for a well-cooked meal or tell someone off for sniggering, you’ll know what just to say.

Do you have an Italian word you’d like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.

Make sure you don’t miss any of our Italian words and expressions of the day by downloading our new app (available on Apple and Android) and then selecting the Italian Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button.

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