Prendere lucciole per lanterne

Meaning: To be completely and badly mistaken.

Language: Italian

Literally: To mistake fireflies for lanterns

Category: Nature

Origin: Confusing a faint firefly for a bright lantern pictures a gross error of perception or judgment.

More idioms — Nature

• Ficar a ver navios — To be left disappointed and empty-handed.
• Att kasta yxan i sjön — To give up completely.
• At save den gren over man selv sidder på — To undermine your own position.
• At gå over åen efter vand — To do something in a needlessly roundabout way.
• Mennä metsään — To go completely wrong.
• Házet flintu do žita — To give up prematurely.

More Italian idioms

• Rimanere in mutande — To be left penniless.
• Tutto fa brodo — Every little bit helps.
• Capire fischi per fiaschi — To misunderstand completely.
• Essere in gamba — To be sharp, capable and on the ball.
• Fare orecchie da mercante — To turn a deaf ear deliberately.
• Non sapere che pesci pigliare — To be at a complete loss what to do.

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