Idioms from Shakespeare

Question 1

a wild goose chase

Answer 1

ricerca inutile

Question 2

be cruel to be kind

Answer 2

act towards someone in a way which seems harsh but will ultimately be of benefit to them

Question 3

break the ice

Answer 3

rompere il ghiaccio

Question 4

come full circe

Answer 4

return to a past position or situation, especially in a way considered to be inevitable (= tornare al punto di partenza)

Question 5

eat sb out of house and home

Answer 5

if you eat someone out of house and home, you eat a lot of their food, especially when you are living with them (= svuotare la dispensa)

Question 6

elbow room

Answer 6

space to move

Question 7

Good riddance!

Answer 7

I’m so glad they’ve done

Question 8

his own flesh and blood

Answer 8

family

Question 9

in my heart of hearts

Answer 9

deep down (I was certain about it)

Question 10

in one fell swoop

Answer 10

all at once, in one go (= in un colpo solo)

Question 11

lie low

Answer 11

keep out of sight; avoid detection or attention (= tenere un profilo basso)

Question 12

mum’s the word

Answer 12

don’t say anything to anyone (= acqua in bocca)

Question 13

neither here nor there

Answer 13

irrelevant, unimportant

Question 14

not sleep a wink

Answer 14

not sleeping at night

Question 15

send sb packing

Answer 15

make someone go away (= mandare via/far fare le valigie)

Question 16

sorry sight

Answer 16

in a bad state, a mess

Question 17

the be-all and end-all

Answer 17

the most important thing

Question 18

the world’s your oyster

Answer 18

you can achieve anything and go anywhere (= il mondo è nelle tue mani)

Question 19

to be in a pickle

Answer 19

in a difficult situation (= essere nei guai)

Question 20

to come what may

Answer 20

whatever happens

Question 21

to have sb in stitches

Answer 21

to make laugh (= far sbellicare dalle risate)

Question 22

too much of a good thing

Answer 22

more than you need of something, even when it’s something you like (= il troppo storpia)

Question 23

vanish into thin air

Answer 23

to disappear suddenly and completely

Question 24

wear your heart on your sleeve

Answer 24

someone who openly show their feelings or emotions rather than keeping them hidden