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mettere fuori combattimento

Meaning: To silence someone or exclude them from participation and influence.

Language: Italian

Literally: to put out of combat

Category: Daily Life

Origin: The image derives from boxing or military combat, where rendering an opponent unable to fight means they are defeated and neutralized.

More idioms — Daily Life

  • mettersi al passo con i tempi — To keep up with current events or modernize one's knowledge and habits.
  • battere la grancassa — To advertise or publicize something widely and loudly; to spread news or promote somethin…
  • 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…
  • smemorato di Collegno — A hopelessly forgetful person.
  • fare a scaricabarile — To evade responsibility by shifting blame to someone else; to pass the buck.

More Italian idioms

  • dannarsi l'anima — To work extremely hard or exert oneself to the utmost.
  • guardarsi alle spalle — To remain vigilant and aware of dangers or threats that might come from behind.
  • qui casca l'asino — That is the crux of the matter; that is where the real difficulty lies.
  • far battere il cuore — To cause someone to worry or to stir romantic feelings in someone.
  • mandare giù — To accept or tolerate something unwillingly, often swallowing one's pride or doubts.
  • questione di lana caprina — A trivial or pointless debate that wastes time and produces no useful result.

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