Italian and English share the image of the "nose" to speak figuratively about different behaviors or attitudes.
Take a look at Marika's video about various expressions having to do with il naso (the nose).
Oggi parliamo di quelle espressioni che hanno a che fare con il naso.
Today, let's talk about those expressions that have to do with the nose.
Captions 4-5, Marika spiega Espressioni con naso
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We'll take a look at some of these expressions further in this lesson.
First of all, how do we say "nosy" in Italian? One way is to use the verb ficcare "to stick in..." Being nosy is when you stick your nose into situations where you probably shouldn't.
No, perché se so che hai ricominciato a curiosare, a ficcare il naso dentro delitti, omicidi... ah!
No, because if I find out that you have started poking around, sticking your nose into crimes, homicides... ow!
Captions 29-30, Provaci ancora prof! S2EP1 - La finestra sulla scuola - Part 16
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We can compress this expression into a noun/adjective as well.
Allora, lei è una che fa finta di starsene per conto suo, ma poi te la ritrovi sempre fra i piedi, una grandissima ficcanaso.
So, she is someone who pretends to mind her own business, but then you always find her underfoot, hugely nosy.
Captions 45-47, Provaci ancora prof! S1E4 - La mia compagna di banco - Part 30
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In the previous example, ficcanaso was used as a noun, as we can see by its indefinite article. But it can also be used as an adjective to describe someone.
And we use the same noun, ficcanaso, in both the singular and the plural.
A me i ficcanaso un mi so' [non mi sono] mai garbati [piaciuti].
Me, snoopers, I've never liked.
Caption 30, Il Commissario Manara S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 8
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Ficcare is commonly used in this expression, but not only. You'll find some examples on WordReference. Ficcare is somewhat similar to infilare or inserire, but it implies an action lacking in grace.
Let's look at a very common expression used to describe someone who is snobbish or stuck up.
When we talk about someone with la puzza sotto al naso (the stink below one's nose), we're talking about someone who is haughty, with one's nose in the air, or a snob.
Be', quando facevo il liceo, c'era una classe dove c'era un sacco di figlie di professionisti, molte con la puzza sotto il naso.
Well, when I went to high school, there was a class where there were a bunch of professionals' daughters, lots of them with a stink under their noses [their noses in the air].
Captions 15-17, Illuminate Margherita Hack - Part 6
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The English word snob has made its way into the Italian language, as an adjective meaning "snobbish," but the longer expression is extremely common.
Finally, a way to say something is based on one's intuition rather than precise information, is a naso (by one's nose), or a lume di naso (by the light of one's nose). They both can mean something like "an impression," "a gut reaction," "a gut feeling," or "off the top of one's head," "by the looks of things." So basically, you're making an educated guess, using your intuition.
E ti è sembrata sincera? A lume di naso, no.
And did she seem sincere to you? Intuitively [by the light of my nose], no.
Captions 23-24, Provaci ancora prof! S3 EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 22
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We can use a naso when we're talking about measurements we are guessing at without knowing precise numbers, like the size of a room. Another way to translate this, depending on the context, is "by the seat of one's pants."
There are certainly other expressions using the nose or the sense of smell, but this is a good start. Let us know if you come across other expressions with the nose that might be interesting, and we'll add them to the lesson. Write to us at [email protected].
Thanks for reading. Next month, we will look at a similar expression to a naso, having to do with approximation, so stay tuned!
We learned about saying we’re sorry using the verb dispiacere in the lesson How to say you're sorry in Italian. But that’s only one of its common uses. If we look closely at dispiacere we can detect two parts: the root piacere (to please) and the prefix dis-, indicating negation or the opposite (very much like “dis-” in English). In a sense, dispiacere (to displease) is the opposite of piacere (to please, to be pleasing), so when I say “I’m sorry,” I’m saying that something displeases me:
Mi dispiace ma il tiramisù è terminato.
I'm sorry but we've run out of tiramisù.
Caption 17, Passeggiando per Roma - per Roma
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Normally, dispiacere isn’t used as the opposite of piacere. See the lesson I like it - Mi piace, where liking and not liking are discussed. In order to say I don’t like something, I say non mi piace, but if I say mi dispiace, it means “I’m sorry,” at least most of the time.
Oddly enough, by negating the already negating verb dispiacere by saying non mi dispiace, it becomes a sort of via di mezzo (middle way) between liking something and not liking it. It’s as if to say non male (not bad) without the exclamation point.* Non mi dispiace can be the equivalent of “I like it enough” or “I don’t mind it.” In the end, it depends on the inflection and facial expression, as well as on the context. Tutto è relativo (it’s all relative)! Sometimes it serves to temper or soften a statement that might hurt someone’s feelings, as in the example at the end of this lesson.
*For more on saying “not bad” with an exclamation point, see the lesson Elegant and Not So Elegant Turns of Phrase.
Dispiacere is also used when asking someone if they mind something. Usually, a positive answer is expected, especially when using the conditional as in the following example. As in English, the answer may or may not answer the actual question:
Ti dispiacerebbe aprire la porta? -Certo.
Would you mind opening the door? [Would it displease you to open the door?] -Sure.
In the example below, the answer is negative in meaning, but said in a positive statement.
Senta, Le dispiace se diamo un'occhiata in giro?
Listen, do you mind if we have a look around?
-Eh, mi dispiace sì!
-Eh, yes I do mind!
Captions 28-29, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva
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In a nutshell:
When dispiacere has to do with minding, the pronoun will generally represent the person being addressed, in the second person:
Ti dispiace? (Do you mind?)
Le dispiace? (Do you mind? [formal])
Vi dispiace? (Do you mind? [plural])
When dispiacere has to do with liking something somewhat, the person doing the liking will be indicated by the pronoun:
Non mi dispiace (I like it pretty much)
Non gli dispiace (He likes it OK)
Putting the pieces together, just for fun:
Mi dispiace dirtelo, ma non mi dispiace la pubblicità della concorrenza. Non ti dispiace se ti dico la verità, vero?
I’m sorry to tell you but I somewhat like the competition’s publicity. You don’t mind if I tell you the truth, do you?
Non mi piace quello che dici ma non mi dispiace se mi dici quello che pensi. Anzi...
I don’t like what you’re saying, but I don’t mind if you tell me what you think. On the contrary...
Check your comprehension:
Make a search of the different conjugations of dispiacere in a Yabla search and choose what you think the closest meaning is in each case. There’s no translation right there, so you won’t get any hints except context, but you can check your results by watching the video.
We saw in the previous lesson that the short word ci fits into (c’entra in) many situations.
But not only can ci mean “there,” ci can represent an object pronoun like “it,” “this,” or “that” plus a preposition (to, into, of, from, about, etc.) all in one, as we see below.
On the job, Manara finds himself in the wine cellar of an important estate and has questioned Count Lapo’s housekeeper about some rifle shots. She answers evasively:
Colpi di fucile qui se ne sentono spesso, è zona di caccia.
We hear gun shots often here, it's a hunting area.
Sinceramente non c'ho badato.
Honestly I didn't pay attention to that.
Captions 13-14, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 5
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And things get more mysterious when Manara discovers Count Lapo’s cryptic parting words about his estate:
Ma ci penserà qualcun altro...
Well, someone else will take care of that...
Caption 36, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 5
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Ci can even get into the kitchen! Two kids are putting the finishing touches on a recipe they have demonstrated:
La nostra pasta è pronta.
Our pasta is ready.
Ci aggiungiamo un cucchiaino di parmigiano.
We'll add a teaspoon of Parmesan to it.
Captions 21-22, Ricette bimbi - Gli spaghetti con zucchine e uova
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But what happens when there are two object pronouns in the same sentence (indirect and direct)? Non c’è problema! Ci transforms itself into ce. The most important question when it’s time to buttare la pasta (throw the pasta in) is:
Ci hai messo il sale? (Did you put the salt in?)
Sì, ce l’ho già messo. (Yes, I already put it in.)
Even when it means “us” (see previous lesson), ci is transformed into ce when a direct object pronoun is also present, like “it” or “that.”
Morto come?
How did he die?
Eh, non ce l'hanno detto.
Uh, they didn't tell us that.
Captions 45-46, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 1
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Ci (often in the form of ce) can easily sneak into a sentence where there is technically no need for it, just to give it some weight.
Io son contadino mica grullo [stupido], ce l'avete il mandato?
I'm a farmer, not an idiot, do you have a warrant?
Caption 34, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 8
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While it’s nice to know what all these little words mean, it can be frustrating trying to account for all of them or to string them together in a logical order, so learning some common frasi fatte (idiomatic expressions) can get you off to a great start.
Lara’s aunt is being pulled by her little dog:
Non ce la faccio, mi fai cadere.
I can't keep up, you'll make me fall.
Caption 2, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP1 - Un delitto perfetto - Part 1
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And the Commissario has no clue why Lara is mad at him:
Lara! Io non l'ho capito perché ce l'hai con me.
Lara! I don't get what it is that you have against me.
Captions 61-62, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP1 - Un delitto perfetto - Part 5
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A good way to get a realistic sense of ci and ce in context is to watch Yabla series like Commissionario Manara, Un medico in famiglia, or even Acqua in bocca. Listen for these words, and when you hear them, press pause and repeat the sentence out loud. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll discover these little words all over the place, sprouting like wildflowers.
Learning suggestion:
You will get a good helping of phrases using ci here. Get to know the ones that resonate with you. Enjoy a comprehensive and entertaining introduction to the word ci here.
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