IdiomThe Absurd
Italian
Italianfarsene un baffo
Meaning: to not care at all; to be indifferent to something.
Literally: To make oneself a mustache of it
Example: “Delle critiche se ne fa un baffo.” — He doesn't give a hoot about the criticism.
English equivalent: Not to give a hoot
Equivalents in other languages
German: Das ist mir Wurst Literally: That is sausage to me
Spanish: Importar un pepino Literally: To matter a cucumber
French: Ça m'en touche une sans faire bouger l'autre Literally: It touches one of mine without moving the other- French: N'en avoir cure Literally: To have no care of it
- French: S'en tamponner le coquillard Literally: To dab one's coquillard with it
- French: S'en moquer comme de l'an quarante Literally: To care about it as much as about the year forty
English: not to give a hoot
Origin: To make a mustache of something is to give it as much importance as a pair of whiskers: none at all. The Hoepli dictionary records it as popular Italian, with the stronger variant farsene un baffo a tortiglione (a twirled mustache). Its first use is not documented.
More Italian idioms
- sulle spine In a state of anxious suspense or nervous tension, unable to relax.
- a gambe levate With great speed or haste, moving rapidly or impetuously.
- nei panni di In the position, role, or situation of someone else; in their shoes.
- menare il can per l'aia To avoid the main point by talking around the subject indirectly.
- con il piede sbagliato To start something badly or get off to a poor beginning.
- togliere il fiato To leave someone astonished or breathless with amazement.
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