mangiare la foglia
Meaning: Understand someone's hidden intentions or see through their deception immediately.
Language: Italian
Literally: to eat the leaf
Category: Food & Drink
Origin: The Renaissance-fencing origin is undocumented folk etymology; more plausibly from animals that eat leaves only when ripe — i.e. sensing the right moment. True origin uncertain.
More idioms — Food & Drink
- piangere sul latte versato — Waste time regretting something that cannot be changed or undone.
- заморить червячка — To have a light snack or small meal to satisfy hunger temporarily.
- estar com água na boca — Feel eager anticipation or desire, especially for food or something pleasant.
- Bir fincan kahvenin kırk yıl hatırı vardır — Sharing coffee creates lasting bonds and social connections that endure for decades.
- أكل العيش والملح مع شخص — Shared intimate bond or deep friendship forged through shared hardship and simple living…
- take the biscuit — to be the most outrageous or remarkable thing; to win or excel.
More Italian idioms
- avere un diavolo per capello — Be extremely angry or agitated, ready to argue with anyone about anything.
- essere un osso duro — Be a difficult, stubborn person who is challenging to deal with or influence.
- Prendere due piccioni con una fava — To achieve two goals with a single effort.
- Avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca — To want to have it both ways.
- Ogni morte di papa — Extremely rarely; once in a blue moon.
- Avere gli occhi foderati di prosciutto — To be unable to see what is right in front of you.
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