Untranslatable wordSocial
Italian
ItalianDietrologia
Meaning: The conviction that the official account is never the real one — that some hidden motive always sits behind events.
Literally: Behind-ology
Origin: Italian dietro ('behind') + -logia; first recorded in Corriere della Sera on 10 April 1974.
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Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- avere la coda di paglia Feel guilty about something because you're afraid of being discovered or criticized.
- mangiare la foglia Understand someone's hidden intentions or see through their deception immediately.
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