Favorite Italian saying?
 

Tell me your favorite saying and its meaning. Maybe its funny or poignant. Is there a story behind why it means so much to you?

Ciao Bella....Hi Beautiful.....Makes me feel good.

I'm rather partial to waving my fist and yelling "Porca Madonna!"

An old, plump porter greeted my wife as "La Bella Senora" every time we visited and made her blush profusely. Sadly he passed away and I am much too old to make her blush.

Dolce far niente.
When I visit Italy, I spend time in cafes doing just that,

StCirq - will we get censored if I ask the meaning of that? It's not in my dictionary. I hate to assume...

Please translate your saying if possible...

"Porco, porco, porco!"

I was waiting for my husband in our hotel lobby in Rome and was "reading" an Italian newspaper. There was a one page story about JFK/RFK/Monroe that was styled after a comic book. In one of the frames Marilyn slams the phone down on JFK while shouting "Porco, porco, porco!" and throws herself down on the bed! It was very dramatic and I like saying it now whenever I feel myself hard done by the oppostie sex.

"Porco madonna" means so much more than the literal translation. It is actually very rude.

Porco does refer to pig, but is also used to refer to sex in a nasty way.

An Italian once told me that all the best Italian curses combine sex and God.

ahhh, excellent. I can always use another curse word that doesn't offend most of the people that hear it cause they don't know what it means. Just feels good to get it out.

whynada! Said to Us by a waiter when we asked for More Bread.

shorenougha! My Husband's grandma from Sicily favorite saying.

Yes, it is indeed quite rude, but sandi, you can always just say "La luna!" if you have the urge to yell.

Fuggedaboudit

Basta!

"I do not wear mass transit shoes!"

This was said by an irate Milan colleague after receiving a memo urging staff to take subways and buses instead of taxis when traveling on business. She yanked off her gorgeous high heels and thumped them on the exhibit stand for extra emphasis and then dramatically crumpled the memo and threw it into the trash.

As far as I know, everyone is still taking taxis.

Bello impossible

St Cirq,

Wouldn't it be "PorcA Madonna" instead? Madonna is feminine, so the qualifying adjective should also be in the feminine (a rule in romance languages...).

Brazilnut, StCirq DID say Porca Madonna.

"Osso Bucco Milanese". Uttered in exasperation by Kevin Kline in....what was that movie...

The fish called Wanda ( I think)