Italiancalcio dell'asino
Meaning: A cowardly blow struck at someone who can no longer defend themselves, especially a fallen leader.
Literally: Kick of the donkey
Example: “Criticarlo dopo le dimissioni è stato un calcio dell'asino.” — Criticizing him after he resigned was a stab in the back.
English equivalent: A stab in the back
Equivalents in other languages
Persian: زیر آب کسی را زدن (Zir-e āb-e kasi rā zadan) Literally: To hit someone under the water
English: a stab in the back
Origin: From a fable told by Phaedrus (Fables I, 21) and retold by La Fontaine (III, 14): as the old lion lay dying, the animals came to see him, and the donkey, now safe from his claws, insulted him and gave him a kick. The Hoepli dictionary defines the calcio dell'asino as a cowardly blow aimed at someone powerful once they can no longer do any harm.
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.
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Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
- 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'.
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