Italian idioms about the body and sleep

1. Dormire come un ghiro

   lit. ‘sleep like a dormouse’

   To sleep very deeply and soundly, without waking up.

   Elsewhere

   • EN Sleep like a log
   • FR Dormir comme un loir
   • DE Schlafen wie ein Murmeltier
   • ES Dormir como un tronco
   • JA 泥のように眠る

2. La notte porta consiglio

   lit. ‘the night brings advice’

   To wait until the next day before making a decision.

   Elsewhere

   • EN Sleep on it
   • FR La nuit porte conseil
   • DE Eine Nacht darüber schlafen
   • ES Consultarlo con la almohada

3. Il mattino ha l’oro in bocca

   lit. ‘the morning has gold in its mouth’

   People who get up or get started early are the ones who get the best chances.

   Elsewhere

   • EN The early bird catches the worm
   • FR L’avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt
   • DE Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
   • ES Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda
   • JA 早起きは三文の徳

4. Tirare le cuoia

   lit. ‘pull the hides’

   To die (said in a casual, joking way).

   Elsewhere

   • EN Kick the bucket
   • FR Casser sa pipe
   • DE Den Löffel abgeben
   • ES Estirar la pata
   • JA 息を引き取る

5. Avere una fame da lupi

   lit. ‘to have a hunger of wolves’

   To be extremely hungry.

   Elsewhere

   • EN I could eat a horse
   • FR Avoir une faim de loup
   • DE Einen Bärenhunger haben
   • ES Tener un hambre canina
   • JA お腹と背中がくっつく

6. Andare a letto con le galline

   lit. ‘to go to bed with the hens’

   To go to bed.

   Elsewhere

   • EN Hit the sack
   • FR Aller se pieuter
   • DE Sich aufs Ohr hauen
   • ES Irse al sobre
   • JA 床に就く

Phrases in bold with a red marker are written up. The rest are waiting for their own page and a check by a native speaker.