Speak in metaphor

Phrases involving clothing

Italians have good reputation for fashion and love to use phrases involving clothing. Today I am talking you through some of them: Vocabulary

L’ABITO NON FA IL MONACO

(lit., the cloth does not make the monk) Don’t judge a book by his cover.

CALARE LE BRACHE

(lit., pull one’s trousers down) To surrender, to give up, give in. “Ho inistito fino a quando hanno calato le braghe”. “I insisted until they gave in”

ESSERE DI MANICA LARGA

(lit., to be wide in the sleeve) To be generous or even overgiving. “Se fossi di manica larga, mi compreresti un regalo per il compleanno”. “If you were generous, you would buy me a gift for my birthday”

ESSERE NATO CON LA CAMICIA

(lit., to born in the shirt) To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth.