Common Italian expression
| Pronunciation | |
| Literal translation | To catch the ball while it’s bouncing |
| English translation | To strike while hot |
| Meaning | To take advantage of an opportunity quickly |
Examples
| Chi coglie la palla al balzo sfrutta qualsiasi opportunità che si trova davanti. | Those who “catch the ball while it’s bouncing” take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way. |
| Cogli la palla al balzo e approfitta del brutto tempo per studiare! | “Catch the ball while it’s bouncing” and use the bad weather for learning! |
Where does this idiom come from?
Soccer players (i calciatori) with quick reflexes catch the ball before the other team does. In essence, they seize every opportunity to win the game and catch the ball “while it’s still bouncing”.
Variations
- cogliere al volo (to seize “while flying”)
- cogliere l’attimo (to seize the moment)
- saltare sul carro del vincitore (to get on the bandwagon)
Related lessons
- cogliere (to catch)
- palla (ball)
- balzo (bounce)
- a (preposition)
- definite articles
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