Italian Idioms (Barron's Idioms Series) [Paperback]

Daniela Gobetti (Author), Robert A. Hall (Author), Frances Adkins Hall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1996 | Series: Barron's Idioms Series

Approximately 2000 Italian idiomatic expressions are presented, placed in model sentences, and supplied with their English meanings.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Italian

From the Inside Flap

(back cover)
More than 2,000 Italian idioms are listed with their English language meanings in this updated edition. Each entry includes use of the idiomatic phrase in a model sentence presented in both Italian and English. Titles in this series of Barron's Idioms Books are available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and English for Spanish Speakers. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 2nd edition (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812090292
• ISBN-13: 978-0812090291
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,476,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could be much better, February 22, 2006

By 

big nick (Ormond Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Italian Idioms (Barron's Idioms Series) (Paperback)

I bought Barron's book of Italian Idioms because two of their previous books, Italian Grammar and Italian At A Glance were excellent. I found it amazing that they could cram so much useful information into these small books. Unfortunately, their book on Italian Idioms is a huge disappointment.

Although the book is loaded with both Italian and English idioms, it will be of little value to those who are trying to learn the language. In the preface, the authors explain that they offer no literal translations and that the reader "should refer to a standard dictionary in order to check the literal translation." In other words, if you are interested in learning the language instead of just memorizing 2000 idioms, be sure to have an Italian/English dictionary at your elbow and be prepared to spend a lot of time looking up words.

Some examples: "Avere l'acqua alla gola - To be in a fix." But the literal translation, which should be included is "to have water on the throat"

"Lavore sott'acqua - To do something underhanded". The literal translation is: "to work under water"

"Essere fatto di carne ed ossa - to be human." Literal translation: "to be made of flesh and bone."

Also, I could not find common idiomatic expressions like "to look forward to" or "I hope so."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful language tool, July 2, 2010

By 

Patsy (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Italian Idioms (Barron's Foreign Language Guides) (Paperback)

This little book offers a lot of phrases, organized by keyword, to help you understand expressions where a literal translation would lead you astray. Great when you start reading italian novels.

4.0 out of 5 stars Not all language is strict grammar!, February 7, 2012

By 

Michael Kovach "Mister Machine" (Wake Forest, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Italian Idioms (Barron's Foreign Language Guides) (Paperback)

This book contains a huge list of idioms. Much of spoken language is made up of IDIOMS like "it is raining cats and dogs" or "it's like finding a needle in a haystack". These phrases clearly connote an idea but do not exactly make logical sense. Each language has it's own idioms. Just browsing thru this book is very interesting. The book is organized alphabetically by the Italian so it is a bit difficult to find something specific.