avere la coda di paglia
Meaning: Feel guilty about something because you're afraid of being discovered or criticized.
Language: Italian
Literally: to have a straw tail
Category: The Absurd
Origin: Medieval imagery where guilty people metaphorically carried a straw tail that could catch fire easily, symbolizing their vulnerability to exposure.
More idioms — The Absurd
- 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다 — Speaking of someone often enough may cause them to unexpectedly appear; talk of the devil.
- пускать пыль в глаза — To deceive or mislead someone, creating false impressions through trickery.
- meter os pés pelas mãos — Make a clumsy mistake or bungle something badly through carelessness.
- 杞憂 — Unnecessary worry about things that won't happen; baseless anxiety.
- 臥虎藏龍 — Hidden talented individuals waiting quietly for their moment to shine.
- 四面楚歌 — Being surrounded by enemies with no hope of escape or support.
More Italian idioms
- mangiare la foglia — Understand someone's hidden intentions or see through their deception immediately.
- avere un diavolo per capello — Be extremely angry or agitated, ready to argue with anyone about anything.
- essere un osso duro — Be a difficult, stubborn person who is challenging to deal with or influence.
- piangere sul latte versato — Waste time regretting something that cannot be changed or undone.
- Prendere due piccioni con una fava — To achieve two goals with a single effort.
- Avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca — To want to have it both ways.
Loading the full interactive collection…