battere la grancassa
Meaning: To advertise or publicize something widely and loudly; to spread news or promote something conspicuously.
Language: Italian
Literally: to beat the big drum
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The image is of someone beating a large drum to attract attention and gather an audience, the traditional way to announce important news.
More idioms — Daily Life
- con beneficio d'inventario — To accept something with skepticism or reservations, not at face value.
- perdere il filo — To lose one's train of thought or become confused about a subject during conversation or…
- smemorato di Collegno — A hopelessly forgetful person.
- fare a scaricabarile — To evade responsibility by shifting blame to someone else; to pass the buck.
- alla carlona — In a careless, rough, or sloppy way without regard for neatness or precision.
- la bellezza di — A considerable quantity or duration of something, often used with mock admiration to emph…
More Italian idioms
- far battere il cuore — To cause someone to worry or to stir romantic feelings in someone.
- mandare giù — To accept or tolerate something unwillingly, often swallowing one's pride or doubts.
- questione di lana caprina — A trivial or pointless debate that wastes time and produces no useful result.
- battere i tacchi — To run away or flee hastily.
- dove non batte il sole — In a place that is dark, hidden, or not respectable; a euphemism for somewhere very undes…
- fuori del seminato — Off the point; irrelevant or beside the subject at hand.
From our false friends
- Bravo — Actually means 'good, skilled, well-behaved'. For brave, say coraggioso.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.