Avere le mani bucate

Meaning: To be a spendthrift.

Language: Italian

Literally: To have holed hands

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: Money slips through hands full of holes as fast as it arrives, picturing someone who cannot hold onto cash.

More idioms — Body & Senses

• Остаться с носом — To be left empty-handed or outwitted.
• Делать ноги — To run away quickly.
• Заговаривать зубы — To distract someone with smooth, evasive talk.
• 二階から目薬 — A roundabout effort that has no real effect.
• 喉から手が出る — To want something so badly you can hardly bear it.
• Μου έφυγε το καφάσι — I was utterly shocked.

More Italian idioms

• Prendere lucciole per lanterne — To be completely and badly mistaken.
• Rimanere in mutande — To be left penniless.
• Tutto fa brodo — Every little bit helps.
• Capire fischi per fiaschi — To misunderstand completely.
• Essere in gamba — To be sharp, capable and on the ball.
• Fare orecchie da mercante — To turn a deaf ear deliberately.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…