/ˈdarsi ˈdelle ˈarje/ lit. ‘to give yourself airs’
Italian idiom, everyday. To brag about yourself.
Draft Not yet checked by a native Italian speaker.
How do people use Darsi delle arie
?
Everyday and a bit disapproving. It’s what you say about someone who acts important, or as a scolding: “smettila di darti delle arie”. Remember the reflexive pronoun changes with the person: “mi do delle arie”, “si dà delle arie”.
Also said darsi arie
Darsi delle arie
in real sentences
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Robert tende a darsi delle arie.
Robert tends to talk big.
Tatoeba, sentence by Guybrush88, translation by CP, CC BY 2.0 FR
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La smetta di darsi delle arie con il suo iPhone.
Stop showing off your iPhone.
Tatoeba, sentence by Guybrush88, translation by Spamster, CC BY 2.0 FR
Where does Darsi delle arie
come from?
English Wiktionary defines it as putting on airs or lording it over others and compares French “se donner des airs”. “Aria” here is the old sense of appearance or manner, the same one in English “airs and graces”. Whether Italian borrowed the phrase from French isn’t settled, and there’s no date.
Mistakes learners make with Darsi delle arie
Leaving out the reflexive. “Dare delle arie” without “si” doesn’t mean anything; you always give the airs to yourself.
Other Italian idioms like Darsi delle arie
Spot a mistake in Darsi delle arie
?
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