Tagliare la testa al toro
Meaning: To settle a matter decisively, once and for all.
Language: Italian
Literally: To cut the bull's head off
Category: Animals
Origin: One clean, final stroke ends all argument — the Italian image of a bold decision that leaves nothing to debate.
More idioms — Animals
- 猫の額 (Neko no hitai) — A very small space, especially of land.
- Водить за нос (Vodit' za nos) — To deceive or string someone along.
- Nem que a vaca tussa — No way; under no circumstances.
- 亡羊补牢 (Wáng yáng bǔ láo) — It's not too late to act after a setback to prevent further loss.
- Passer du coq à l'âne — To switch topics abruptly and illogically.
- To bury your head in the sand — To refuse to face an obvious danger.
More Italian idioms
- 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.
- Non avere peli sulla lingua — To speak bluntly and hold nothing back.
- Liscio come l'olio — To go off without a hitch.
- Fare il portoghese — To sneak in without paying.
From our tongue twisters
- Se la serpe si avvicina alla siepe del serpente, il serpente scappa dalla siepe. — A sibilant 's/se/si/sci' minefield; both words (serpe and serpente) slither through the s…
- Chi è Ciccio Capece? Ciccio Capece è un capocaccia che caccia con la cacciaballa. — A 'c/ci/ccia' onslaught — Italian's hard and soft c in the same sentence, non-stop.
- Sopra la panca la capra campa, sotto la panca la capra crepa. — A beloved 'c' / 'p' rhythm trap.