Categorization of articulated (Su) in idiomatic expressions
A. Caution, delicacy, and sensitivity
These expressions describe acting with extreme care, being in a delicate situation, or being on edge.
| Phrase | Example |
| camminare sulle uova (to walk on eggshells, to act with extreme caution) | Con lui bisogna camminare sulle uova. (With him, you have to walk on eggshells.) |
| stare sulle spine (to be on tenterhooks, to be on edge) | Aspettavo la notizia stavo sulle spine. (I was on tenterhooks waiting for the news.) |
| essere sui carboni ardenti (to be on pins and needles) | Durante l’interrogatorio, ero sui carboni ardenti. (During the interrogation, I was on pins and needles.) |
Examples in context:
- Da quando ha litigato con il capo, cammina sulle uova in ufficio. (Since he argued with the boss, he’s walking on eggshells in the office.)
- L’esame è domani, sono sulle spine. (The exam is tomorrow, I’m on tenterhooks.)
B. Stubbornness and inflexibility
These expressions describe sticking to one’s position, being stubborn, or refusing to compromise.
| Phrase | Example |
| stare sulle sue (to stand one’s ground, to be stubborn, to stick to one’s opinions) | Ha ragione, ma non serve stare sulle sue. (He’s right, but there’s no point in being stubborn.) |
| restare sulle proprie posizioni (to stick to one’s guns, to maintain one’s stance) | Nonostante le critiche, è restato sulle sue posizioni. (Despite the criticism, he stuck to his guns.) |
Examples in context:
- Non c’è modo di fargli cambiare idea, sta sempre sulle sue. (There’s no way to make him change his mind, he always sticks to his position.)
- Mia nonna sta sulle sue e nessuno la convince. (My grandmother stands her ground and no one can convince her.)
C. Imminence and critical threshold
These expressions describe being on the verge of doing something or at a critical point.
| Phrase | Example |
| essere sul punto di (to be about to, to be on the verge of) | Era sul punto di arrendersi. (He was on the point of giving up.) |
| essere sull’orlo di (to be on the brink of) | L’azienda è sull’orlo del fallimento. (The company is on the brink of bankruptcy.) |
| essere sul confine di (to be on the borderline of) | Era sul confine della pazzia. (He was on the borderline of madness.) |
Examples in context:
- Ero sul punto di uscire quando hai chiamato. (I was about to leave when you called.)
- La situazione è sull’orlo della crisi. (The situation is on the brink of crisis.)
D. Self-Deception, Desperation, and Futile Efforts
These expressions describe making desperate or absurd attempts to justify oneself.
| Phrase | Example |
| arrampicarsi sugli specchi (o clutch at straws, to make desperate attempts to justify oneself) | Non ha prove, si arrampica sugli specchi per difendersi. (He has no evidence, he’s clutching at straws to defend himself.) |
| arrampicarsi sui vetri (to climb on glass) less common | Le sue scuse sono ridicole, si arrampica sui vetri. (His excuses are ridiculous, he’s clutching at straws.) |
Examples in context:
- Invece di ammettere l’errore, si arrampica sugli specchi. (Instead of admitting the mistake, he’s clutching at straws.)
- La sua difesa era piena di scuse arrampicarsi sugli specchi. (His defense was full of desperate excuses.)
E. Complacency and resting on past achievements
These expressions describe relying on past successes without making further effort.
| Phrase | Example |
| dormire sugli allori (to rest on one’s laurels) | Dopo il successo, non dormire sugli allori. (After success, don’t rest on your laurels.) |
| riposare sugli allori (to rest on one’s past achievements) | Non puoi riposare sugli allori, devi continuare a lavorare. (You can’t rest on your laurels, you must keep working.) |
Examples in context:
- Ha vinto un premio ma non dorme sugli allori, sta già lavorando al prossimo progetto. (He won an award but isn’t resting on his laurels; he’s already working on the next project.)
- Dopo quell’unico successo, si è addormentato sugli allori. (After that single success, he rested on his laurels.)
F. Absolute certainty and unwavering commitment
These expressions describe being absolutely certain or willing to stake everything on a claim.
| Phrase | Example |
| mettere la mano sul fuoco (to stake one’s life on it, to be absolutely certain) | Di questo ci metto la mano sul fuoco. (I’d stake my life on this.) |
| giurarci sulla propria vita (to swear on one’s life) | Te lo giuro sulla mia vita. (I swear it on my life.) |
G. Changing one’s mind and reconsideration
These expressions describe reconsidering or reversing previous decisions.
| Phrase | Example |
| tornare sulle proprie decisioni (to go back on one’s decisions, to reconsider) | Dopo aver riflettuto, è tornato sulle sue decisioni. (After reflecting, he went back on his decisions.) |
| ritornare sui propri passi (to backtrack, to change one’s mind) | Ha ritornato sui suoi passi e ha accettato. (He backtracked and accepted.) |
| fare marcia indietro (to backpedal, to reverse one’s decision) | Quando ha visto le conseguenze, ha fatto marcia indietro. (When he saw the consequences, he backpedaled.) |
Examples in context:
- Era deciso a partire, poi ha tornato sulle sue decisioni. (He was determined to leave, then he went back on his decision.)
- Non è facile ammettere di aver sbagliato e tornare sui propri passi. (It’s not easy to admit you were wrong and backtrack.)
H. Seriousness and commitment
These expressions describe being serious, committed, or doing something in earnest.
| Phrase | Example |
| fare sul serio (to be serious, to mean business, to do something in earnest) | Stai scherzando o fai sul serio? (Are you joking or are you serious?) |
| prendere sul serio (to take seriously) | Devi prendere sul serio questa situazione. (You have to take this situation seriously.) |
Examples in context:
- Non ridere, faccio sul serio! (Don’t laugh, I’m serious!)
- Se non prendi sul serio il lavoro, non otterrai risultati. (If you don’t take work seriously, you won’t get results.)
I. Additional idiomatic expressions
| Phrase | Example |
| essere sullo stesso piano (to be on the same page, to be equal) | Non siamo sullo stesso piano. (We’re not on the same level.) |
| mettere tutto sul piatto (to lay one’s cards on the table, to be honest) | Ho messo tutto sul piatto. (I laid all my cards on the table.) |
| stare sul chi vive (to be on the alert, to be watchful) | In quella zona, bisogna stare sul chi vive. (In that area, you have to be on the alert.) |
| avere sulla coscienza (to have on one’s conscience) | Ha molte colpe sulla coscienza. (He has many sins on his conscience.) |
| avere sul groppone (to have as a burden) | Ha ancora i debiti sul groppone. (He still has debts on his back.) |
| stringere sui costi (to cut costs) | L’azienda sta stringendo sui costi. (The company is cutting costs.) |