Categorization of Per-based idiomatic expressions
A. Feelings, Preferences, and Weaknesses
These describe emotional inclinations, preferences, or vulnerabilities.
| Phrase | Example |
| avere un debole per (to have a soft spot for, to be fond of) | Ha un debole per i dolci al cioccolato. (He has a weakness for chocolate desserts.) |
| andare matto per (to be crazy about, to be mad for) | Va matto per la musica jazz. (He’s crazy about jazz music.) |
| avere un diavolo per capello (to be furious, to be in a rage) | Quando ha saputo la notizia, aveva un diavolo per capello. (When he heard the news, he was furious.) |
B. State of Mind and Attitude
These describe mental states, preoccupations, or attitudes.
| Phrase | Example |
| stare con la testa per aria (to be distracted, absent-minded, daydreaming) | Oggi sto con la testa per aria, non riesco a concentrarmi. (Today I’m distracted, I can’t concentrate.) |
| non darsi per vinto (not to admit defeat, to not give up) | È ostinato, non si dà per vinto mai. (He’s stubborn, he never gives up.) |
| rispondere per le rime (to answer back sharply, to give a sharp reply) | Quando l’hanno criticato, ha risposto per le rime. (When they criticized him, he gave a sharp reply.) |
C. Success, Popularity, and Value
These describe being valued, successful, or in demand.
| Phrase | Example |
| andare per la maggiore (to be in vogue, to be popular, to be in high demand) | Quest’anno i colori pastello vanno per la maggiore. (This year pastel colors are in vogue.) |
| prendere per oro colato (to take as gospel truth, to believe unquestioningly) | Le sue parole vengono prese per oro colato. (His words are taken as gospel.) |
| capire Roma per Toma (to get things completely wrong, to misunderstand) | Hai capito Roma per Toma! (You’ve got it all wrong!) |
D. Communication and Narration
These describe how stories are told or how things are explained.
| Phrase | Example |
| raccontare per filo e per segno (to tell in every detail, to tell the whole story) | Ti racconterò per filo e per segno com’è andata. (I’ll tell you in detail how it went.) |
| prendere fischi per fiaschi (to misunderstand, to get things confused) | Ha preso fischi per fiaschi e ha sbagliato tutto. (He got things completely mixed up.) |
| menare il can per l’aia (to beat around the bush, to ramble, to waste time) | Smettila di menare il can per l’aia e vieni al punto! (Stop beating around the bush and get to the point!) |
| dare un occhio per (to keep an eye on, to watch over) | Puoi dare un occhio per i bambini? (Can you keep an eye on the children?) |
E. Success, Failure, and Escaping Difficulties
These describe managing to succeed or narrowly escaping failure.
| Phrase | Example |
| passare/uscire per il rotto della cuffia (to get off lightly, to have a narrow escape, to scrape through) | È passato per il rotto della cuffia grazie a un amico. (He got off lightly thanks to a friend.) |
| andare per le lunghe (to drag on, to take a long time) | La riunione va per le lunghe. (The meeting is dragging on.) |
| menare/prendere per il naso (to lead by the nose, to manipulate, to deceive) | Non lasciarti menare per il naso! (Don’t let yourself be led by the nose!) |
F. Friendship and Relationships
These describe close bonds or deep connections.
| Phrase | Example |
| essere amici per la pelle (to be bosom friends, to be thick as thieves) | Sono amici per la pelle da bambini. (They’ve been bosom friends since childhood.) |
Next lesson:
Proverbi con (per) / Proverbs with (per)