cavare le castagne dal fuoco
Meaning: To help someone out of a dangerous or difficult situation, often at one's own risk or effort.
Language: Italian
Literally: to pull the chestnuts from the fire
Category: Food & Drink
Origin: The image derives from the fable of the monkey and the cat: the monkey tricks the cat into pulling hot chestnuts from a fire, burning the cat's paws while the monkey eats the prize—now applied to anyone who exerts themselves to solve another's problem.
More idioms — Food & Drink
- a cereja do bolo — the crowning touch; something wonderful that completes something already good.
- nem carne nem peixe — Something or someone that does not fit into any clear category and remains ambiguous or u…
- water bij de wijn doen — to compromise or make a concession in a dispute or negotiation.
- alleen de rozijnen uitpikken — to select only the best or most desirable items while ignoring the rest.
- roet in het eten gooien — to spoil or ruin a plan, event, or situation by introducing an unwelcome disruption.
- knollen voor citroenen verkopen — To swindle or defraud someone by passing off something worthless as valuable.
More Italian idioms
- preparare il terreno — To establish the conditions or foundations that will make something possible later.
- come butta — What is happening; how are things going.
- girare a vuoto — To spin idly without accomplishing anything; to waste time in aimless activity.
- adagiarsi sugli allori — To become complacent and stop making efforts after past successes.
- alla sprovvista — Without warning; caught unprepared or by surprise.
- mettere le corna — To commit infidelity against a partner; to cuckold someone.
From our untranslatable words
- Meriggiare — To take a quiet midday rest in a cool, shaded spot, escaping the fierce afternoon sun.
- Magari — One word doing the work of 'if only', 'I wish', 'perhaps' and 'you bet' — the tone decide…
- Sprezzatura — The art of making something difficult look wholly effortless, hiding every trace of the w…