Common Italian expression
| Pronunciation | |
| Literal translation | To put black on white |
| English translation | To put in writing, to clearly state in black and write |
| Meaning | To make important things (promises, contracts, etc.) official and binding |
Examples
| Saresti disposto a mettere nero su bianco quello che stai dicendo? | Would you be willing to put down on paper what you are saying? |
| Voglio la tua firma nero su bianco. Non mi fido di quello che dici. | I want your signature in writing. I don’t trust what you say. |
Where does this idiom come from?
Paper, la carta, is (more often than not) white. Ink is (more often than not) a dark color, either black or blue. When you write something black on white, it basically means that you are writing it down. This contrast of colors also has another meaning: black on white is clearly visible. The writer is not trying to hide any lies.
Related lessons
- mettere (to put)
- nero (black)
- bianco (white)
- su (preposition)
- colors
- prepositions
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