Prendere la palla al balzo. Let's look at this common Italian expression, which could do with a bit of explaining. First, the individual words: Prendere is a verb meaning "to take" or "to catch." La palla is "the ball" (implying a ball used in sports, such as basketball or tennis). Al balzo means "on the bounce" or "as it bounces up." We can visualize someone who bounces the ball, and you catch it as it comes up from the ground or floor. 

The expression is used in casual and semi-formal speech, often to describe the action of reacting quickly to an advantageous opportunity. It's similar to "seizing the moment" or "seizing the day," common translations of the Latin phrase "carpe diem." In other words, when chance comes your way, go for it.

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In our first example, Imma only uses the first part of the expression, and omits the "ball" metaphor while retaining the "bounce," or "rebound" metaphor. 

Ma Vaccaro prende al balzo l'idea e decide che il ricatto lo farà lui.

But Vaccaro grabs the idea on the rebound and decides that he's the one who will blackmail him.

Captions 30-31, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP1 L'estate del dito - Part 27

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Another version of this Italian expression is cogliere la palla al balzo. All that changes is the verb, from prendere (to take, to catch) to cogliere (to seize, to grab). 

Quello non è per colpa mia. Però hai colto la palla al balzo.

That wasn't my fault. However, you seized the opportunity.

Captions 38-39, Il Commissario Manara S2EP12 - La donna senza volto - Part 15

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Let's look at other related words with the same root balz-

The verb balzare means  "to jump" or "to leap," or, in the case of a ball, "to bounce."

A closely connected verb is rimbalzare (to bounce, to ricochet).

Here, we have an example of 2 verbs (in the passato remoto) rimbalzare and balzare.

La palla rimbalzò a terra, balzò in alto e cadde in uno stagno.

The ball bounced on the ground, bounced up and fell into a pond.

Caption 7, Ti racconto una fiaba Il Principe Ranocchio - Part 1

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The noun il balzo means "the leap," "the jump," "the spring," or "the bounce."

Ogni santo giorno ho una gran voglia di saltare

Con un balzo in sella e cominciare a pedalare

Every blessed day I have a great urge to jump

with a spring into the saddle and start to pedal

Captions 7-8, Radici nel Cemento La Bicicletta

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A closely connected noun is il rimbalzo (the rebound).

Maggiore è il rimbalzo e più grande è la capacità dei materiali di resistere agli impatti.

The greater the rebound and the greater the ability of the materials to withstand impacts.

Captions 43-44, Space to ground EP1 Life on Mars - Esplorazione - Part 3

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Di rimbalzo is "on the rebound."

Next time you take advantage of the right moment, you can say, Ho preso la palla al balzo!

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