IdiomDaily Life
Italian
ItalianOgni morte di papa
Meaning: Extremely rarely; once in a blue moon.
Literally: Every death of a pope
Example: “Ci vediamo ogni morte di papa, ormai.” — We see each other once in a blue moon these days.
English equivalent: Once in a blue moon
Origin: Popes reign for life and are often elected old, but reigns can still last many years, so a pope's death was a rare event for Romans, with its funeral, conclave and new election. The Hoepli dictionary defines ogni morte di papa as very seldom, and gives the variant a ogni morte di vescovo (every time a bishop dies). Spanish has the same image in cada muerte de obispo.
Equivalents in other languages
English: Once in a blue moon
Afrikaans: So skaars soos hoendertande Literally: As scarce as hen's teeth
Spanish: cada muerte de obispo Literally: Each death of bishop- Spanish: de Pascuas a Ramos Literally: From Easter to Palm Sunday
Portuguese: de vez em nunca Literally: From time to never- English: as scarce as hen's teeth
More Italian idioms
- Avere gli occhi foderati di prosciutto To be unable to see what is right in front of you.
- Fare le corna To ward off bad luck — or to signal that a partner is being unfaithful.
- 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.
- Stare con le mani in mano To stand around doing nothing while others work.
- Non ci piove There's no doubt about it whatsoever.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
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- Il troppo stroppia Too much of anything, even a good thing, does harm.
- L'occasione fa l'uomo ladro People who would never plan a wrong may commit one when the chance is easy.
- Se gioventù sapesse, se vecchiaia potesse The young lack experience and the old lack strength.
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