If you go batty for B.A.T., then you’re probably familiar with the “Otto Vu”—Italian for 8V (as in V-8 engine) and the nickname for the Fiat 8V Zagato. It was a signature design of Elio Zagato and one of the Italian automotive designer’s favorite cars. Zagato’s recent death set Italian car connoisseurs to debate the [...]
Sep
27
2009
27
2009
Sep
27
2009
27
2009
La Mantide Religiosa
September is the time of year when we start noticing le mantidi religiose (the praying mantises), which are very common here in Italy. I had always wondered why they seemed to appear so late in the year, and where they arrived from, but a quick investigation revealed the simple fact that they are already present [...]
Sep
27
2009
27
2009
French expression: Quatre à quatre
What does the idiomatic French expression quatre à quatre mean? Click the link above to learn all about it, and then come back here to share your thoughts.
More: French expressions
Sep
25
2009
25
2009
Cuéntame todo.
The verb contar has several meanings. Check them out!
1. to count (to add up)
Ella quiere perder peso sin contar calorías. – She wants to lose weight without counting calories.
2. to tell (a story)
¿Le contaste la historia a tu hermano? – Did you tell your brother the story?
No se lo cuente a nadie. – Don’t [...]
Sep
25
2009
25
2009
Spanish Idiom September 25, 2009
In both English and Spanish there are numerous idioms to describe death. In English we have the phrase “pushing up daisies”. One Spanish idiom is “estar mascando tierra”, which means “to be chewing earth”.