(Coming soon!)
“You’ve made your bed, now sleep in it”. These wise words are used by English speakers everywhere who want to make sure that someone who has made a mistake realises it. But try it in Italian, and see how superior it makes you feel. I tried it today with Cinzia. “Bed? Sleeping?” she said, confused. My feeling of superiority disappeared with the crescendo of laughing from all the Italian speakers around the office. Only Marco didn’t laugh. I think you mean “Chi semina vento raccoglie tempesta.” Then, making a note in his diary, he said under his breath, “You’ve given me an idea for a new lesson…”
Today we are starting a new lesson type, Italian idioms and proverbs! Learning Italian idioms and proverbs offers better insight into the Italian way of thinking and Italian traditional culture! Instead of literally translating English proverbs, try using the Italian versions!
This entry was posted on Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at 6:30 pm and is filed under Idioms and Proverbs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
14 Responses to “Idioms and Proverbs #1 - Making your bed and having to sleep in it”
ItalianPod101.com says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Cari ascoltatori,
fateci sapere cosa pensate di questo nuovo tipo di lezione.
Dear listeners,
please let us know what you think about this new lesson type.
Nic says:
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Hey guys, interesting lesson! I think it makes for a short and sweet lesson! Keep them coming. 
petiteclaire says:
May 4th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
That’s a great idea !!!! The only (minor) complaint I might have is that you actually introduced 2 (3 with latin) proverbs in a rather short lesson; having only one proverb but more examples of how to use it would be nice…
And it would be nice too if the lessons were a bit longer (around 10 min), this also goes for the Survival Phrases. But all in good time I guess ! 
Marco says:
May 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Thank you for your comments.
Dear petitclaire, so you would prefer to have more examples of the usage set in appropriate contexts?
We were actually afraid of making the lessons too long and thus too heavy.
Anyone else have comments?
Ciao
Marco
petiteclaire says:
May 6th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Dear Marco,
Too big a lesson might be a problem too ! But maybe more in-context examples of one proverb would be ok…
On the other hand, Italian is very close to my own mother tongue ( French ) so I realize that what seems easy for me might be more difficult for others…
Sonja Jean Craig says:
May 7th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Ciao,
This is a great new way to learn. It gives us a glimpse of the wisdom of Italy as well. And to throw in a little latin, nice touch. keep it fresh. I always enjoy your pod casts.
Buona sera,
SJ 
Marco says:
May 7th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Dear petiteclaire,
Thank you for the suggestions, we will start working in that direction.
Dear Sonja Jean Craig,
I am happy to hear you liked the Latin Proverb.
We will be inserting some Latin when the Italian proverb has some clear connection to a Latin one.
Thank you for your kind words. We will keep it fresh!
Ciao a tutti!
Cinzia says:
May 9th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Ciao ragazzi!!! 
Hi guys!
Thank you for all your help.
We need advices and suggestions!
We wanna build something great with you!
So please, keep posting your ideas!!!
Ciaooooo
C!
Peter says:
May 12th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Are you sure that the first proverb is not closer to “as you sow so shall you reap”?
“Making your bed and having to sleep in it” doesn’t quite convey an unintended
larger consequence of a smaller original action.
Deb says:
May 29th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I agree with Peter. I think the idea is to make you think ahead.
I found it interesting to see the second proverb “Errare è umano, perseverare è diabolico” and wondered how it relates to ” To err is human, to forgive divine”? Provides a different take on things!
Deb
Marco says:
June 4th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Dear Peter,
you are absolutely right “as you sow so shall you reap” has a closer meaning to “Chi semina vento raccoglie tempesta.”
Dear Deb,
About “To err is human, to forgive divine”? I think it is a quote from Alexander Pope.
It can be found in italian as “Errare è umano, perdonare è divino.”
Ciao a tutti!
Allan says:
July 19th, 2008 at 3:48 am
These are really great. We much appreciate everything you are doing. There is something to learn in every lesson—even when we understand the basic grammar and vocab, we find something cultural to make it all worthwhile.
Incidentally, to add to the sourcing of the proverb: There are many slight variations, but the closest we know to the exact wording of the Italian proverb is in the Bible. Hosea 8:7 “For they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.”
Thanks!!
Allan
Cinzia says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Thank you Allan!
and welcome “on board”!
where are you from?
I hope you will enjoy all the ten lessons cycle! And suggest some ideas if you want!
ciao ciao!
Cinzia
Allan says:
July 25th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Thanks! We are from Minneapolis in frigid (though not today) Minnesota. We are trying to work our way through everything because we have found that there are cultural things included in lessons where we already understand the grammar. And it NEVER hurts to hear something—anything in italian.
ciao ciao!
Allan & Kathryn
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Category: Idioms and Proverbs |
Grammar: Chi semina vento raccoglie tempesta. Errare è umano, perseverare è diabolico. | Function: learning with proverbs | Topic: proverbs | Politeness Level: informal
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