In this short lesson, we will learn the meaning of the Italian idiom Perdere colpi along with its pronunciation. If you sometimes fail at something you have always done brilliantly, this expression is for you!
Let’s get started! Iniziamo!
Perdere colpi
Meaning of the idiom
Perdere colpi can be literally translated as “to lose blows”. Its meaning is the same as the English expression to lose your edge, so it’s used to describe someone who no longer has a unique skill they once had.
Linguistically speaking, it can be broken down into…
- perdere, to lose
- colpi, blows, from colpo, blow

For example, you could say…
Hai preso 7 nella verifica? Stai perdendo colpi!
You got a B on the test? You’re losing your edge!
La qualità del cibo in questo ristorante ha perso colpi.
The food quality in this restaurant lost its edge.
Pronunciation of Perdere colpi in Italian
Now let’s hear how this idiom is pronounced.
Perdere colpi.
To lose one’s edge.
Literally: To lose blows.
If you need help with Italian pronunciation, check out the lesson on the Italian alphabet and pronunciation.
Where does Perdere colpi come from?
Colpo can also mean hit in Italian. When you hit something (let’s say a goal), it means you are successful. If for some reason your reflexes get worse due to old age, you may end up missing your target, be it a goal or a punching ball!

And that’s the end of our lesson on the Italian idiom Perdere colpi!
What next?
See all the other Italian idioms!
Now that you’ve seen what the meaning of the idiom Perdere colpi is in Italian, you might want to keep learning Italian online with these free Italian resources:
Title: Italian All-in-One For Dummies
Language: English / Italian
Publisher: For Dummies
Pages: 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.
❤️ If you liked this lesson, consider sharing it with your social media friends who are also studying Italian.