Fare le corna

Meaning: To ward off bad luck — or to signal that a partner is being unfaithful.

Language: Italian

Literally: To make the horns

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: The horned-hand gesture reaches back to ancient Mediterranean superstition against the evil eye, still flashed across Italy today.

More idioms — Body & Senses

• Stare con le mani in mano — To stand around doing nothing while others work.
• 腹が黒い — Scheming and malicious behind a friendly face.
• Зарубить на носу — To remember something firmly, once and for all.
• Iets onder de knie hebben — To have mastered a skill.
• اللي على راسه بطحة بيحسس عليها — The guilty person gives himself away.
• Avoir le bras long — To have influence and useful connections.

More Italian idioms

• Tagliare la testa al toro — To settle a matter decisively, once and for all.
• Avere le mani in pasta — To be deeply involved in something.
• Non ci piove — There's no doubt about it whatsoever.
• Non avere peli sulla lingua — To speak bluntly and hold nothing back.
• Liscio come l'olio — To go off without a hitch.
• Fare il portoghese — To sneak in without paying.

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