
IdiomDaily Life
Romanian
A-i pica fisa
Meaning: To finally understand something.
Literally: For the token to drop
Example: “I-am explicat de trei ori până i-a picat fisa.” — I explained it three times before the penny dropped.
English equivalent: The penny drops
Origin: A fisă was the token used in Romanian public payphones. The call went through only when the token dropped, so "the token has dropped for him" means he has finally understood. English has the same picture in "the penny dropped."
Equivalents in other languages
English: the penny drops
More Romanian idioms
- A se uita ca pisica în calendar To stare blankly, understanding nothing.
- A tăia frunză la câini To do pointless work; to idle away the day.
- A o da în bară To mess up or fail.
- A face din țânțar armăsar To exaggerate something enormously.
- A tăcea ca porcul în păpușoi To keep guiltily quiet.
- A umbla cu cioara vopsită To try to deceive people with falsehoods.
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