What are phrasal verbs? It is a verb that is combined with an adverb or preposition to modify meaning and make the verb available in a wider context. There are hundreds of phrasal verbs in English. Italian doesn’t have that much, but it does have some. Many Italian phrasal verbs translate directly to very similar English equivalents; others are only found in Italian. Let’s take a moment to learn some of the most common phrasal verbs used in everyday conversation.
1. Portare via – take away
Literally: take away
Take this dish away.
Take this plate away.
2. Carry on – proceed/continue
Literally: Propose/advance
We carry on the family tradition.
We carry on a family tradition.
3. Come down – come down
Literally: down
The ceiling came crashing down.
The ceiling came crashing down.
4. Go crazy/lose your mind
literally: lost mind
That woman is out of her mind!
That woman is out of her mind!
5. Fare fuori – get rid of/end
Literally: do / do it
This phrasal verb can be used innocently in the context of firing an employee or wiping down a brownie. Or it can be used more sinisterly – *ahem* to end a person. Yes, the phrase is used as a euphemism for murder.
Did you take out all the cakes? ?
You wiped the whole cake? ?
6. Mettere dentro – arrest/imprisonment
Literally: put it in
After the killing, the police locked him up.
After the killing, the police put him in jail.
7. run over
Literally: placed in
careful! Don’t put a squirrel under it!
careful! Don’t run over the squirrel!
8. Send down – swallow
Literally: send it down
I can’t stand the bad news.
I can’t stand the bad news.
9. Mettere via – save (financially) / put on hold
Literally: keep it
I should save some money for the holidays.
I should save some money for the holidays.
10. Get together – get together
Literally: put it together
Marco and Giulia got together six years ago.
Marco and Giulia got together six years ago.
11. Dare addosso – pursuit/harassment
Literally: give on top
In English, we might use the phrase “Come at me!” to challenge someone to attack, or “Don’t come at me” to dissuade people from harassing us. If “come at” implies an attack, “give at” implies an attack. This is a school of thought that can help in understanding this unique Italian phrasal verb.
Citizens attack politicians.
The townspeople hunt down the politician.
12. Darci dentro – hard work
Literally: put into (something)
Think of the English phrase “to put your back into it”. This Italian phrasal verb is very similar. Devotion or devotion to work means putting yourself at work and thus working harder.
If you want to pass this exam, you have to give it your all.
If you want to pass this exam, you must study hard.
13. Dare via – give up
literally: give up
You can give your old clothes to needy people.
You can give your old clothes to people in need.
14. Throw down – write down
Literally: drop
Before leaving, I hurriedly wrote a few words.
I jotted down a few words before going out.
notes: specific phrase drop the dough (or more simply toss pasta) refers to the action of “putting pasta” to cook.
15. Buttare via – throw away/throw away
Literally: throw away
I have to take out the trash.
I have to take out the trash.
16. Buttare fuori – throw/kick
Literally: throw it out
Did you know that in Italian, bodyguard yes bodyguard?
His mother kicked him out of the house.
His mother kicked him out of the house.
17. Mettere su – create/put on
Literally: put on
I gained a few pounds over Christmas.
I gained a few kilos over Christmas.
notes: Three expressions using this phrasal verb that you will often hear in Italian are establish a family (start a family), settle down (settle down) and put pasta (put the pasta on).
18. Tirare avanti – Passed/Barely Passed
Literally: pull forward
My salary is meager. I’m having a hard time.
My salary is very low. I feel sad.
19. Tirare fuori – think out/bring out
Literally: pull out
This phrasal verb reminds me of the vulgar English phrase “to pull something out of one’s @$$”, meaning to make up a wild story.
where did you get the plan absurd?
How did you come up with this ridiculous plan?
20. Tirare su – cheer up / cheer up
Literally: pull / pick up
This can be done with an additional moral The (moral) meaning is “to cheer up” and “to cheer up”.If you’re having trouble remembering this phrasal verb, just think delicious italian dessert tiramisu (literally “pick me up”)!
I send you a bouquet of flowers to make you happy.
I will send you a bouquet of flowers to make you happy.
