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qui casca l'asino

Meaning: That is the crux of the matter; that is where the real difficulty lies.

Language: Italian

Literally: here the donkey falls

Category: Animals

Origin: The image is of a donkey stumbling or falling at a particular spot, marking the point where trouble actually begins. The phrase appears in Italian literature and folk speech.

More idioms — Animals

  • questione di lana caprina — A trivial or pointless debate that wastes time and produces no useful result.
  • virar bicho — To become extremely angry or enraged.
  • vaca sagrada — Something so valued or protected that it cannot be criticized, changed, or harmed.
  • matar cachorro a grito — To be extremely poor or destitute.
  • met de kippen op stok gaan — to go to bed very early, at sunset.
  • köra med — To tease, bully, or push someone around.

More Italian idioms

  • 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…
  • 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.
  • 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…

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