Ridere sotto i baffi in Italian
| Literal translation | To laugh under your mustache |
| Meaning | Quietly laughing to oneself or smirking at something amusing without showing it openly |
| IPA pronunciation | /ˈridere ˈsotto i ˈbaffi/ |
Ridere sotto i baffi
To laugh under your breath, to snicker
Where does this come from? The origin of this expression is uncertain. Some people say it can’t be as old as the ancient Romans, because they disapproved of a mustache. Others say it must come from populations that were fond of mustaches, such as the Lombards or the Byzantines. Either way, a mustache and beard (barba) can hide your mouth movements and make it easier for you to laugh under your breath!
For example, you can say…
Perché stai ridendo sotto i baffi?
Why are you laughing under your breath?
I suoi eccessi di rabbia non mi fanno un baffo.
His outbursts of anger don’t baffle me.
➡️ Related lessons
- Ridere (to laugh)
- Baffi (mustache)
- Sotto (preposition)
- Prepositions
- All Italian expressions
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