IdiomThe AbsurdItalian

pendaglio da forca

Meaning: A person who deserves to be hanged; a worthless scoundrel.

Literally: Gallows pendant

Example: “Nel romanzo il locandiere è un pendaglio da forca.” — In the novel, the innkeeper is a thorough scoundrel.

Origin: A pendaglio is something that dangles, a pendant or tassel. A pendaglio da forca (gallows pendant) is someone who deserves to dangle from the gallows: a villain or a rogue. The Treccani dictionary records it, also as pendaglio di forca.

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