Keep a tight rein: a daily Italian idiom
Here's Your Daily Dose of Italian 🇮🇹
Encountered a tough situation? Grip tight and get ready for the Italian phrase that'll help you aim for the tides to turn!
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Are you swimming against the currents, just hanging on, hopeful for better days ahead? The Italians have a fantastic term to express this resilience: tenere botta (pronounced as tenere and botta).
This expression symbolizes persisting through hardship, even when it seems there's no escape or resolution in sight.
Let's trace the roots of this phrase back to the old-school ironworking days. Tenere botta was a command issued to assistants tasked with keeping a piece of metal or wood steady, enabling the boss master to hammer it into shape.
In a nutshell, tenere botta means resisting the direct blow and the recoil of the object, embodying resilience and determination in the face of stress.
In modern-day conversations, use tenere botta to let others know you're persevering through a challenging moment.
La situazione familiare è inevitabilmente complessa, ma sto cercando di facilitare le cose a meglio presto che posso.
The family situation, unfortunately, is complex, but I'm trying to get a handle on things as soon as I can.
Non è stato facile. Ho dovuto tenere botto fino alla fine.
It wasn't a smooth ride. I had to hang on until it was over.
Il progetto di lavoro va di malavoglia, ma cercherò di andare avanti.
The work project isn't going smoothly, but I'm gonna grind and make it happen.
If you're finding yourself in hot water but still clinging to hope, tenere botta is a powerful way to say you're not backing down!
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See Also
### Italian expression of the day: 'Andare a canna'### Italian expression of the day: 'In bocca al lupo'### Italian expression of the day: 'Fare un bel passo indietro'### Italian expression of the day: 'Smussare i fianchi'
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