/ˈstare ˈstretti ˈkome sarˈdine/ lit. ‘to be squeezed like sardines’
Italian idiom, everyday. Packed tightly together in a crowded place.
Draft Not yet checked by a native Italian speaker.
How do people use Stare stretti come sardine
?
Everyday Italian for packed trains, buses and lifts. The verb changes to fit the scene: “stare”, “essere”, “viaggiare come sardine”, and “stretti” agrees with whoever is squeezed (“strette” for women). Commuters say it about the morning metro all the time.
Also said essere pigiati come sardine, come sardine in scatola, viaggiare come sardine
Stare stretti come sardine
in real sentences
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A causa del tifone nessun treno era in orario e noi abbiamo viaggiato come sardine.
Due to the typhoon, the train schedule was disturbed and all the trains were jam-packed.
Tatoeba, sentence by gina, translation by WestofEden, CC BY 2.0 FR
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Abbiamo viaggiato come sardine a causa del tifone che ha sconvolto la circolazione dei treni.
Due to the typhoon, the train schedule was disturbed and all the trains were jam-packed.
Tatoeba, sentence by gina, translation by WestofEden, CC BY 2.0 FR
Where does Stare stretti come sardine
come from?
The Sabatini Coletti dictionary, under “sardina”, gives “stare stretti come s.” and explains it as being pressed like sardines in a tin. The picture is the canned sardine, packed head to tail in oil, the same image as English “packed like sardines” and the French and German phrases. The Italian isn’t dated.
Mistakes learners make with Stare stretti come sardine
Forgetting the agreement. “Stretti” follows the people squeezed, so a group of women is “strette come sardine”.
Other Italian idioms like Stare stretti come sardine
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