Bedeutung
Choosing the best among poor alternatives.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase reflects a widespread skepticism towards authority and quality, often called 'disincanto'. It's a way to be realistic without being entirely hopeless. TV critics often use this phrase to describe the quality of summer programming when most big shows are on break. In some regions, this phrase is used with a shrug of the shoulders, emphasizing the 'pazienza' (patience/resignation) needed to deal with bureaucracy. Younger generations use it ironically on social media to describe memes or viral trends that are 'cringe' but funny.
Use it for irony
Italians love to use this phrase with a bit of a smirk. It shows you are 'in' on the joke that everything is a bit mediocre.
Watch the gender
Don't forget to change 'il' to 'la' if you are talking about a feminine noun like 'pizza' or 'scelta'.
Bedeutung
Choosing the best among poor alternatives.
Use it for irony
Italians love to use this phrase with a bit of a smirk. It shows you are 'in' on the joke that everything is a bit mediocre.
Watch the gender
Don't forget to change 'il' to 'la' if you are talking about a feminine noun like 'pizza' or 'scelta'.
Political talk
If you want to sound like a local discussing politics, this is your #1 phrase.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'meno peggio' (remember the article!).
Tra tutte queste macchine usate, questa mi sembra ________.
The noun 'macchina' (car) is feminine singular, so we use 'la'.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'voto il meno peggio'?
Scenario: You are at a polling station.
The phrase implies choosing the best of bad options.
Match the Italian phrase to its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are the standard translations for these related concepts.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ti piace il nuovo ufficio?' B: 'Non proprio, ma tra quelli che abbiamo visto...'
B is expressing that they don't really like the office, so 'meno peggio' fits the negative context.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
When to use 'Il meno peggio'
Politics
- • Candidates
- • Laws
- • Parties
Daily Life
- • Products
- • Restaurants
- • Movies
Work
- • Decisions
- • Tools
- • Tasks
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenTra tutte queste macchine usate, questa mi sembra ________.
The noun 'macchina' (car) is feminine singular, so we use 'la'.
Scenario: You are at a polling station.
The phrase implies choosing the best of bad options.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are the standard translations for these related concepts.
A: 'Ti piace il nuovo ufficio?' B: 'Non proprio, ma tra quelli che abbiamo visto...'
B is expressing that they don't really like the office, so 'meno peggio' fits the negative context.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenTechnically, it's an idiom that breaks strict rules (using an adverb as an adjective), but it is 100% accepted in modern Italian.
Yes, but be careful. It's usually insulting unless you are talking about a group where everyone is expected to be bad (like politicians).
'Peggio' is an adverb (worse), 'peggiore' is an adjective (worse). In this phrase, 'peggio' is used as a fixed part of the idiom.
It's neutral-informal. You can use it with friends or in a newspaper, but maybe not in a legal contract.
No! That is a very common mistake even for Italian children. It's always 'il migliore'.
Yes. It always implies that the options are not good.
Use 'il male minore' (the lesser evil).
Yes, if the food is mediocre. 'Questa pasta è la meno peggio'.
Yes, it is a standard national idiom.
Yes: 'Questi sono i meno peggio'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
il male minore
synonymThe lesser of two evils.
accontentarsi
builds onTo settle for something.
non è il massimo
similarIt's not the best.
fare schifo
contrastTo be disgusting/terrible.
