Bedeutung
Feeling anxious or nervous about something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Italians often use hand gestures to accompany this phrase, such as shaking the hand as if it's hot or pointing to their chest to indicate 'ansia'. The trope of 'the long wait' is a staple of Italian storytelling, from the desert in 'The Desert of the Tartars' to the bureaucratic waits in Fellini films. During the 'Mondiali' (World Cup), the entire nation is 'sulle spine'. It's a collective emotional state. In the South, you might hear more visceral variations, but 'essere sulle spine' remains the standard understood by everyone from Milan to Sicily.
Use with 'Tenere'
If you want to sound very natural, use 'Non tenermi sulle spine!' when someone is slow to give you information.
Plural Only
Never say 'sulla spina'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating literally from another language.
Bedeutung
Feeling anxious or nervous about something.
Use with 'Tenere'
If you want to sound very natural, use 'Non tenermi sulle spine!' when someone is slow to give you information.
Plural Only
Never say 'sulla spina'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating literally from another language.
Social Media
You'll often see this in Instagram captions or WhatsApp when people are waiting for a big announcement.
Teste dich selbst
Completa la frase con la forma corretta di 'essere sulle spine'.
Da quando ho inviato il messaggio, _________ (io) _________.
The subject is 'io' (I), so the verb 'essere' must be 'sono'.
Quale frase è corretta?
Scegli l'opzione grammaticalmente corretta.
The idiom requires the plural 'spine' and the articulated preposition 'sulle'.
In quale situazione useresti 'essere sulle spine'?
Abbina la situazione all'idioma.
The idiom is used for anxious waiting and suspense.
Completa il dialogo.
A: 'Allora, ti hanno dato il lavoro?' B: 'Non lo so ancora, mi fanno _________ fino a domani.'
While 'essere' is possible, 'stare' or 'mi tengono' are more common when describing a state imposed by others.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenDa quando ho inviato il messaggio, _________ (io) _________.
The subject is 'io' (I), so the verb 'essere' must be 'sono'.
Scegli l'opzione grammaticalmente corretta.
The idiom requires the plural 'spine' and the articulated preposition 'sulle'.
Abbina la situazione all'idioma.
The idiom is used for anxious waiting and suspense.
A: 'Allora, ti hanno dato il lavoro?' B: 'Non lo so ancora, mi fanno _________ fino a domani.'
While 'essere' is possible, 'stare' or 'mi tengono' are more common when describing a state imposed by others.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenBoth are correct. 'Essere' is more common for the general state, while 'stare' emphasizes the duration of the feeling.
Yes! You can be 'sulle spine' for a surprise party or a gift. It just means you are anxious to know.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
The closest is 'to be on pins and needles' or 'to be in suspense'.
Yes, it means 'you are putting me on edge/making me anxious'.
Yes, 'spina dorsale' is the backbone, but in this idiom, it refers to the thorns of a plant.
Non tenermi sulle spine!
No, that's 'avere paura'. 'Sulle spine' requires waiting for something.
Yes, for example, waiting for a contract to be signed.
Essere tranquilli or essere sereni.
Verwandte Redewendungen
stare sui carboni ardenti
similarTo be on hot coals
avere i nervi a fior di pelle
builds onTo be extremely edgy
non stare nella pelle
similarTo be jumping out of one's skin
mettere l'ansia
relatedTo cause anxiety
