gambino

English translation: nearly topped me

08:18 Aug 7, 2023

Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / context of a short story

Italian term or phrase: gambino

Hi Everyone.
I am having trouble with this expression:"quasi tiro il gambino", which I can't find in any of the dictionaries I use, including Treccani. The context is a science fiction story in which the character is riding along on her quadricycle with sails when she hits a rock which causes the back sail to flap loose and hit her in the back of the neck:
"L'angolo di scotta si mette a sbarellare e io me lo becco qui sulla nuca che quasi tiro il gambino". From context I am guessing it means "knocks me out" or "does for me", or some other idiomatic expression for being killed, but I am hoping someone can give me an exact explanation. Thanks in advance, Isobel

isobel Grave KudoZ activity Questions: 42 (1 open) (3 without valid answers) Answers: 0 Australia
Local time: 05:13

English translation:nearly topped me

Explanation:
In Toscana si usa "tirare il calzino". Significa la stessa cosa (crepare).
In inglese ci sono molti modi per dire la stessa cosa ma....

"nearly topped me" could work well here because of the flapping sail - but others may suggest better options

Selected response from:

Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:43

Grading comment

Thanks for your explanation of the idiom,Tom,and the suggested translation. It works well. Thanks also to everyone for their comments and alternative versions. Much appreciated Isobel
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +5

nearly topped me

Tom in London

4 +1

I nearly kicked the bucket

Lisa Jane

Summary of reference entries provided

dandamesh

Answers

11 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

quasi tiro il gambino

nearly topped me

Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:43
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 48

Grading comment

Thanks for your explanation of the idiom,Tom,and the suggested translation. It works well. Thanks also to everyone for their comments and alternative versions. Much appreciated Isobel

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

I nearly kicked the bucket

Explanation:
slang for 'I nearly died'

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Note added at 3 hrs (2023-08-07 12:08:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick_the_bucket

https://www.wordreference.com/enit/kick%20the%20bucket

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 21:43
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Italian
PRO pts in category: 27

Reference comments

36 mins peer agreement (net): +2

Reference

Reference information:
tirare le cuoia, stendere le gambe/zampe
https://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/ricerca/tirare-le-cuoia/...

dandamesh
Native speaker of:

Italian
PRO pts in category: 4

Note to reference poster

Asker: Thanks to both for expressing your agreement with Tom's explanation. The comparable idioms are useful. Much appreciated, Isobel

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gambino

English translation: nearly topped me

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English translation: nearly topped me

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