/ˈkome ˈkane e ˈɡatto/ lit. ‘like dog and cat’
Italian idiom, everyday. Two people who are always arguing.
Draft Not yet checked by a native Italian speaker.
How do people use Come cane e gatto
?
Everyday Italian for couples, siblings or colleagues who can’t agree on anything. It usually follows a verb: “litigano come cane e gatto”, or ironically “vanno d’accordo come cane e gatto” (they get on like dog and cat). The dog comes first, as in French and German.
Also said litigare come cane e gatto, essere come cane e gatto, come cani e gatti
Come cane e gatto
in real sentences
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Tom e Mary litigavano come cane e gatto.
Tom and Mary fought like cat and dog.
Tatoeba, sentence by Guybrush88, translation by CK, CC BY 2.0 FR
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Vanno d’accordo come cane e gatto.
They get along like a cat and a dog.
Tatoeba, sentence by Guybrush88, translation by CM, CC BY 2.0 FR
Where does Come cane e gatto
come from?
Italian Wiktionary lists “litigare come cane e gatto” under “cane”, meaning to be in permanent conflict with someone. The picture rests on the old belief that dogs and cats are natural enemies, shared by French, German, Spanish and English. The Italian phrase isn’t dated.
Mistakes learners make with Come cane e gatto
Putting the cat first, as in English. “Come gatto e cane” sounds wrong to Italians; it’s always the dog, then the cat.
Other Italian idioms like Come cane e gatto
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