Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Maschiaccio
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Limonare, Scopare
Limonare, Scopare
Scopare = To fuck
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Hotness - Un bel tipo
Girls
Una bella tipa (*) A beautiful girl/woman.
Una tipa (*) Lit. A type. Not beautiful in the traditional sense but attractive anyway.
Una tipetta (**) Lit. A little type. Usually used to indicate an attractively fiery girl.
Una bella gnocca (***) A fit girl.
Una ciospa (***) An ugly, unattractive girl.
Un rospo (***) Lit. A toad. An ugly, unattractive girl.
Un bel tipo (*) A handsome guy.
Un tipo (*) Lit. A type. Cool and attractive.
Uno gnocco (***) A fit guy.
Un ciospo (***) An ugly, unattractive boy.
Un rospo (***) Lit. A toad. An ugly, unattractive boy.
Un viscido/Un verme (R) A slime-ball/worm. Someone who tries to pull a girl with very cheesy or creepy lines.
Abbordare (**) Lit. To board. To pull.
Cuccare (**) To pull.
Provarci (**) To try to pull someone.
Occhi da pesce lesso (**) Boiled fish eyes. No need for explanations, I'm sure we have all been approached by one of these. I'm talking to the girls...
Limonare (**) To snog with passion. Something to do with lemons... don't ask me why.
Scambio di lingua (***) Linguistic exchange. Can involve vocabulary or tongues.
Farsi qualcuno (**) To do someone. To have an occasional romantic encounter with someone, usually involving passionate kissing or further...
Mettersi assieme (*) To become an item.
Cappuccio/cappuccetto/guanto/impermeabile (**) And we cannot forget precautions...
Lit. Hood/little hood/glove/waterproof. All meaning condom.
In a Mood - È di luna buona -
È di luna buona (*) Lit. He/she has the good moon. He/she is in a good mood.
Sono al settimo cielo (*). Lit. I'm in the seventh sky. I'm on cloud nine.
Sono strafelice (**) Very, very happy.
Sto da Dio (**) Lit. I'm with God. Obviously happy...
Sono felice e beata (*) Happy and beatified... Even happier...
Sto una favola (**) I'm in a fairytale.
Sono cotto/a (**) Lit. I'm cooked. I'm in love but up for other things too...
Ha la luna storta (*) Lit. He/she has got the moon the wrong way round. Bad mood. This can simply be Ha la luna.
Lunatico/a (**) Moody. Still to do with the moon.
Sto di merda (R) I feel crappy.
Sono distrutto/a (*) I'm shattered.
Sono a pezzi (*) I'm in pieces (can be physical or emotional).
Ho il cuore infranto (*) I'm heartbroken.
Sono morto/a (*) I'm dead. In the sense of tired.
Sono giù (*) I'm down.
Ho la testa fra le nuvole (*) My head's in the clouds. Distracted.
Sono per aria (*) I'm in the air. Distracted.
Ho la ridarella (**) I've got the giggles.
Mi viene da ridere (*) I've got the giggles.
Me la faccio addosso (**) I'm going to do it in my pants. I'm scared/nervous.
Sono fuori (**) Lit. I'm out. I'm distracted or drunk or mad or on drugs. Take your pick.
What do you want from me? Arguing
What do you want from me?
Cosa avanzi? (**) When someone is looking at you as if you owe them something.
Hai qualche problema? or C'è qualche problema? (*) Got a problem? Or, is there a problem?
Always a good way of starting an argument.
Che cavolo vuoi? (**) What the hell do you want? Lit. What cabbage do you want?
Cos'hai da guardare? or Che cavolo hai da guardare? What are you looking at? Lit. What cabbage are you looking at? In short, Cavolo guardi?
Cavolo can be substituted for Cacchio (***) which is a little bit ruder or Cazzo (R) which is very, very rude - used when people really mean business.
Ti prendo a sberle (**) I'll give you a good slapping.
Ti faccio un culo così (R) I'll make you a bum like this... or something to that effect which means I will sort you out.
Ti rifaccio la dentatura (**) I'll rearrange you teeth.
Me la paghi cara (*) You'll pay dearly.
Vai a cagare (R) Go take a dump.
Vai a cagare sulle ortiche (R) Go take a dump on stinging nettles.
Ma vai a quel paese (R) Lit. Go to that country. Get lost.
Porco (***) Pig.
Contaballe (***) Liar.
Leccaculo/Lecchino (***) Bootlicker.
Mi fai schifo! (**) You disgust me!
Che cavolo dici? (*) What the hell are you talking about?
Non sparare cazzate (***) Don't talk crap.
Con chi credi di parlare? (*) Who do you think you are talking to?
Credi che sia nato/a ieri? (*) Do you think I was born yesterday?
Mi prendi per scemo/a? (**) Do you think I'm stupid?
Non prendermi per il culo (***) Lit. Don't take me by the bum. Don't take the Mickey.
Ma tu ti droghi! (**) You're on drugs!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Fernet Branca
http://www.fernetbranca.com/
Fernet-Branca
A household name in Italy and a cult hit abroad, Fernet-Branca is one of Italy's more unusual drinks. Its thick, bitter flavour makes it something of an acquired taste, but those who do like it often love it. Alcohol content seems to vary slightly by country, but the (Italian) bottle I have in front of me has an alcohol content of 43%.
While some other distillers produce their own versions of Fernet, these have never achieved the popularity of the Branca drink, and the word "Fernet" usually implies Fernet-Branca.
What exactly is Fernet-Branca?
Fernet-Branca is a dark, syrupy alcoholic drink similar to an amaro, with a flavour that's best described as being a cross between medicine, crushed plants and bitter mud. The exact recipe of Fernet-Branca is a secret but the producers, Fratelli Branca Distillerie, do say that it contains 27 different herbs and spices taken from four continents. Among the known ingredients are aloe, gentian root, rhubarb, gum myrrh, red cinchona bark, galanga and zedoary. The rumoured ingredients include saffron.
The history of Fernet-Branca
Fratelli Branca Distillerie claim that the recipe has remained unchanged since its invention in 1845. According to the company, Fernet was created by the "self-taught apothecary" Bernardino Branca. The name "Fernet" belonged to a Doctor Fernet, a fictional Swede with whom Branca originally shared the credit for Fernet, presumably to add authority to claims of the drink's health benefits. The logo, featuring an eagle poised over a globe, was designed in 1893 by Leopoldo Metlicovitz.
Health benefits
There were many, many health benefits claimed for Fernet-Branca. A newspaper advertisement from 1865 claimed this "renowned liqueur" to be "febrifuge, vermifuge, tonic, invigorating, warming and anti-choleric", a drink which had furthermore helped the venerable Doctor Fernet (and several members of his family) to live for over a hundred years. It was also marketed as a cure for menstrual cramps. The drink's numerous medicinal claims came in handy during the American prohibition; as a medicine, Fernet-Branca was still legal.
Today, many people claim that Fernet is an excellent digestive aid and hangover cure.
Other drinks from Fratelli Branca
As well as Fernet, Fratelli Branca produce grappa under the brand names Candolini and Sensèa. They're also responsible for other drinks including Strevecchio Branca brandy and a liquor called Caffè Borghetti. Fernet-Branca itself is also available in a mint flavour, known as Brancamenta.
Fernet abroad
Fernet-Branca has gained great popularity in Argentina, where it's often drunk with cola, and even has it's own song, 'Fernet con Coca' by Vilma Palma. It's also very popular in San Francisco, where it's often drunk with a ginger ale chaser.
External Links
See the official website of Fernet-Branca atwww.fernetbranca.com.The recipe is a variation on the Negroni but the amounts make the drink a bit dryer than the traditional Negroni. I mixed and poured and my first taste reaction was “wow, that makes a Negroni taste like cotton candy”. The sweetness of the Italian vermouth is neatly hidden behind the Fernet Branca. The drink has a long finish but I’m having a hard time describing the taste. I will say to mix this drink in small portions, it certainly is an aperitif. One will do.
- 1.5 oz 209 Gin
- .75 oz Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth
- .75 oz Fernet-Branca
- stir, strain, garnish with olive