In this lesson, you’ll learn the most common and interesting Italian idioms for people who are in a hurry.
Let’s start!
Italian idioms for people who are in a hurry
There are many Italian idioms for people who are in a hurry. Let’s take a look at them.
Chi ha tempo non aspetti tempo
The first we’re going to see translates to don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Aspetti is a conjugation of the subjunctive mood of the verb aspettare, to wait.
Chi ha tempo non aspetti tempo
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today
Literally: He who has time, may he not bide his time
Meglio tardi che mai
Tardi means late. Mai means never. You can guess that this means better late than never.
Meglio tardi che mai
Better late than never
Chi prima arriva meglio alloggia
Alloggiare means to reside, to live. It means that if you are the first one to show up you can get the best seat in the room.
Chi prima arriva meglio alloggia
Literally: He who arrives earliest has a better accommodation
Title: Italian All-in-One For Dummies
Language: English / Italian
Publisher:Â For Dummies
Pages:Â 672
Learn to speak Italian like a native? Easy.
Italian All-in-One For Dummies appeals to those readers looking for a comprehensive, all-encompassing guide to mastering the Italian language. It contains content from all For Dummies Italian language instruction titles, including Italian For Dummies, Intermediate Italian For Dummies, Italian Verbs For Dummies, Italian Phrases For Dummies, Italian Grammar For Dummies, and Italian For Dummies Audio Set.
Chi tardi arriva male alloggia
This is the counterpart to the idiom above. If you are the last one to arrive, don’t expect to get a premium seat.
Chi tardi arriva male alloggia
Literally: He who arrives late has a bad accommodation
Sveglia!
Sveglia literally translates to alarm clock, but you can use it to wake up someone who you think is too slow in what they are doing or is too naive about something… or is still in bed at 12 pm. It translates to the English sentence wake up!.
Sveglia!
Wake up!
Literally: Alert!
Ti hanno fregato. Sveglia!
You have been conned. Wake up!
Datti una mossa, sbrigati, spicciati!
These are the favorite Italian idioms for people who are in a hurry. You will often hear these from parents if you take long enough to get ready before going out. Hurry up!
Datti una mossa!
Hurry up!
Literally: Give yourself a move!
Sbrigati!
Hurry up!
Literally: Get moving yourself!
Spicciati!
Hurry up!
Literally: Rush yourself!
Aiuta Lingookies con un đź‘Ť!
Chi dorme non piglia pesci
Imagine this scenario: you are a fisher (pescare means to fish). You happen to nod off as soon as a big fish tugs at your bait. The fish is strong enough to pull the cane out of your sleeping hands and then it sinks into the water, never to return.
He who sleeps doesn’t catch fish. And loses their cane.
Chi dorme non piglia pesci
The early bird gets the worm
Literally: He who sleeps doesn’t catch fish
Dormire in piedi
People who sleep while standing have no superpower. If you sleep while standing, it means you are dead tired and might doze off in seconds. You are asleep on your feet.
Dormire in piedi
To be asleep on one’s feet
Literally: To sleep standing up
Sto dormendo in piedi. Mi serve un caffè.
I’m asleep on my feet. I need a coffee.
Taglia corto!
Get to the point!
We all have that one friend who takes forever to say the littlest thing. Well, you can tell them this: taglia corto! Cut it short!
This idiom is usually accompanied by the scissors hand gesture: index and middle finger touching each other multiple times to simulate the two blades of a scissor cutting something.
Taglia corto!
Get to the point!
Literally: To cut it short
Fuggire a gambe levate
When you run fast enough, it’s as if you were flying on your legs. Gambe levate literally translates to raised legs. You can translate this idiom with the verb to hotfoot.
There are many other Italian idioms for people who are in a hurry and go for a run. We’ll take a look at them in a future lesson.
Fuggire a gambe levate
To hotfoot
Literally: To escape at raised legs
Il ladro è fuggito a gambe levate prima che arrivasse la polizia.
The thief hotfooted before the police arrived.
Fatto, ecco fatto!
These are really common Italian idioms for people who are in a hurry. They both translate to the English done!. When you are proud of having finished something and want to show how fast you are in doing it, say ecco fatto!.
Ecco fatto!
Done!
Literally: Here done!
Partire in quarta
This is related to car gears. Those of you who can drive stick will know that it’s impossible for a car to start moving in the 4th gear. Well, it’s possible for humans. When someone leaves in the 4th gear, it means they take off at a very fast speed.
Partire in quarta
To take off at a fast speed
Literally: To leave in the 4th gear
Il ladro è partito in quarta prima che arrivasse la polizia.
The thief took off at the speed of light before the police arrived.
Occhio!
This translates the English sentence watch out!, careful!. Literally, occhio means eye.
Occhio!
Watch out! Careful!
Literally: Eye
Per farla breve, in poche parole
These Italian idioms for people who are in a hurry translate the English long story short. When you need to sum something up, use one of these.
Per farla breve
Long story short
Literally: To make it short
Per farla breve, sono arrivato in ritardo perché ho perso il treno.
Long story short, I was late because I missed the train.
In poche parole
Long story short
Literally: In a few words
In poche parole, non gliel’hai ancora detto?
Long story short, you didn’t tell him yet?
Essere di fretta
Literally means to be in a hurry. Use this if someone is bothering you.
Essere di fretta
To be in a hurry
Sono di fretta!
I’m in a hurry!
What next?
You might want to keep learning Italian online with these free Italian resources:
❤️ If you liked this lesson, consider sharing it with your social media friends who are also studying Italian.