On an Italian Big Foot

piede

foot

When I saw Constantine's colossal foot  on display at Rome’s Capitoline Museum, I thought of a saying I’d once read: “vivere su un gran piede” (to live on a large foot), that is, luxuriously or in style. Whether or not that’s always been true, Italian feet have been leaving big linguistic footprints for centuries.

Think of what you can do with Italian feet: You may go somewhere a piedi (on foot) or a piedi nudi (barefoot), camminare in punta di piedi (walk on the point of the feet, or on tiptoe), battere i piedi (stamp your feet), or compete in a corsa a piedi (footrace). On a boat you may avere il piede marino (get your sea legs). On land you might even pose for a ritratto in piedi (full-length portrait). In crowded theaters with only posti in piedi (standing-room), you may have to stare in piedi (stay on foot, or stand) for an entire performance.  

In English, shameless flatterers are bootlickers; in Italian, they’re leccapiedi (footlickers). Just like English-speakers, Italians may look at someone from head to toe (guardare qualcuno da capo a piedi) or be so swift that they seem to have wings on their feet (aver le ali ai piedi). Those with a foot in two camps tengono il piede in due staffe (literally put their feet in stirrups) or hedge their bets. Gli anziani (the very old) may have one foot in the grave (un piede nella fossa).

You better get moving if you hear an Italian cry out,“Fuori dai piedi!” (literally, outside one’s feet, or “Clear out!”). Pay attention if advised to “andare coi piedi di piombo!” (“Go with feet of lead") or watch your step and proceed with extreme caution. Never let someone farsi mettere i piedi sul collo (put his feet on your neck or walk all over you), nor should you mettere qualcuno sotto i piedi (put someone under your feet, or treat them badly). And be careful not to darsi la zappa sul piedi (give the hoe to one’s foot, or defeat your own purpose).

You never know when something may put you su due piedi (on two feet, or on the spot). But if you can prendere piede (take foot, or gain a foothold) and puntar i piedi (brace your feet, or hold one’s ground), you should be able to cadere in piedi (fall or land on your feet). Just be wary of ragionare coi piedi (thinking with one’s feet, or in an illogical way). You may end up with una cosa fatta coi piedi (something made with the feet, or a sloppy piece of work).

There’s one question for which I have yet to find an answer: What happens when an Italian puts his foot in his mouth? Does he mettersi il piede in bocca?

Words and Expressions

a pie’ sospinto -- very often, at every foot put forward

a piede libero -- on free foot, free

il collo del piede -- the neck of the foot, instep

togliti dai piedi -- get lost

Comments

[Peter @ italyMONDO!]

One thing I have never gotten used to in Italy (still!) - I love to walk around with piedi nudi, but the Italians just can't stand to see someone barefoot!