far battere il cuore
Meaning: To cause someone to worry or to stir romantic feelings in someone.
Language: Italian
Literally: to make the heart beat
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The image is of the heart racing or pounding in response to emotion—whether fear, anxiety, or love—a physical response to internal turmoil.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- mandare giù — To accept or tolerate something unwillingly, often swallowing one's pride or doubts.
- battere i tacchi — To run away or flee hastily.
- a viso aperto — Openly and frankly; without deception or concealment.
- mettere le corna — To commit infidelity against a partner; to cuckold someone.
- senza capo né coda — In a senseless or disjointed way; without coherence, order, or point.
- unha e carne — Extremely close or inseparable; bound together in an intimate connection.
More Italian idioms
- 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…
- questione di lana caprina — A trivial or pointless debate that wastes time and produces no useful result.
- 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.
From our untranslatable words
- Menefreghista — Someone who has made not caring into an entire stance — indifference as a way of life.
- Apericena — The evening drink whose accompanying buffet is generous enough to replace dinner altogeth…
- Abbiocco — The heavy, irresistible drowsiness that comes after a large meal — the post-lunch stupor…