calcio dell'asino
Meaning: A cowardly or treacherous attack from an unexpected quarter.
Language: Italian
Literally: kick of the donkey
Category: Animals
Origin: A donkey's kick is sudden, unpredictable, and comes from behind—the image of a base act of violence.
More idioms — Animals
- qui casca l'asino — That is the crux of the matter; that is where the real difficulty lies.
- questione di lana caprina — A trivial or pointless debate that wastes time and produces no useful result.
- virar bicho — To become extremely angry or enraged.
- vaca sagrada — Something so valued or protected that it cannot be criticized, changed, or harmed.
- matar cachorro a grito — To be extremely poor or destitute.
- met de kippen op stok gaan — to go to bed very early, at sunset.
More Italian idioms
- a bocca asciutta — Hungry and wanting food, or disappointed and empty-handed.
- alle corde — In a desperate or losing position, cornered.
- mela marcia — A person who is corrupt or morally bad and whose influence damages those around them.
- toccare il fondo — To reach the lowest point of degradation or despair; to hit rock bottom.
- mettere fuori combattimento — To silence someone or exclude them from participation and influence.
- dannarsi l'anima — To work extremely hard or exert oneself to the utmost.
From our false friends
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.
- Parente — Actually means 'relative'. A parent (mother or father) is un genitore.
- Annoiare — Actually means 'to bore'. Mi annoi = You're boring me — gentler than 'you're annoying me'.