Bedeutung
To take the biggest part of something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Italy, the lion is the symbol of Venice (Leone di San Marco). While the idiom isn't specific to Venice, the image of the lion as a powerful, dominant entity is very strong in Italian history and art. In EU political discourse, larger countries like Germany or France are often accused of 'doing the lion's share' in decision-making processes. The idiom is a direct legacy of Aesop's fables, which are taught to almost every Italian child in elementary school, making this idiom part of their basic cultural DNA. Italian sports newspapers like 'La Gazzetta dello Sport' frequently use this phrase to describe a dominant team or athlete in a tournament.
Use it in Business
It's a very sophisticated way to describe market share in an Italian interview. It shows you understand both the language and the business culture.
Don't change the gender
Never say 'la parte della leonessa' unless you are literally talking about a female lion in a zoo. The idiom is fixed.
Bedeutung
To take the biggest part of something.
Use it in Business
It's a very sophisticated way to describe market share in an Italian interview. It shows you understand both the language and the business culture.
Don't change the gender
Never say 'la parte della leonessa' unless you are literally talking about a female lion in a zoo. The idiom is fixed.
Irony
Italians often use this ironically. If someone takes the last cookie, you can say 'Complimenti, hai fatto la parte del leone!' with a smile.
Verb Choice
Use 'prendersi' if you want to sound more critical of the person taking the share.
Teste dich selbst
Completa la frase con la forma corretta del verbo 'fare'.
Nel progetto di ieri, noi ________ la parte del leone.
Since the sentence refers to 'ieri' (yesterday), we need the passato prossimo 'abbiamo fatto'.
Qual è il significato corretto di 'fare la parte del leone'?
In un mercato competitivo, l'azienda leader fa la parte del leone.
The idiom refers to having the largest share or portion.
Abbina la situazione all'uso dell'idioma.
Match the context to the sentence.
A-3 is informal/food, B-1 is macro-economic, C-2 is about effort/work.
Completa il dialogo con l'espressione corretta.
A: Chi ha mangiato quasi tutta la torta? B: È stato Luca, come sempre ________.
The context of eating 'quasi tutta la torta' (almost all the cake) requires the idiom for taking the biggest share.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Distribution Chart
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenNel progetto di ieri, noi ________ la parte del leone.
Since the sentence refers to 'ieri' (yesterday), we need the passato prossimo 'abbiamo fatto'.
In un mercato competitivo, l'azienda leader fa la parte del leone.
The idiom refers to having the largest share or portion.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
A-3 is informal/food, B-1 is macro-economic, C-2 is about effort/work.
A: Chi ha mangiato quasi tutta la torta? B: È stato Luca, come sempre ________.
The context of eating 'quasi tutta la torta' (almost all the cake) requires the idiom for taking the biggest share.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNot necessarily. It can be a neutral description of a market leader or a compliment for someone who did most of the work.
Yes, absolutely. You can use it for individuals, companies, or even abstract concepts like 'emotions'.
'Fare' is more descriptive (to play the part), while 'prendersi' is more active (to take for oneself).
Yes, it is very common in financial and political journalism.
No, the idiom is strictly about the lion because of the Aesop fable.
You don't usually pluralize it. You would say 'Loro hanno fatto la parte del leone' (They did the lion's share).
Yes, it is the exact Italian equivalent of that English concept.
Yes. 'Il lavoro fa la parte del leone nella mia giornata' (Work takes up most of my day).
No, it is used daily in modern Italian news and conversation.
You could say 'gli sono rimaste le briciole' (he was left with the crumbs).
Usually 'in' (in the market) or 'di' (of the work).
Only if you are being funny or complaining about who pays for dinner.
Verwandte Redewendungen
fare piazza pulita
similarTo clear everything out / to take everything.
il piatto forte
similarThe main attraction or strongest part.
essere un leone
contrastTo be very brave or strong.
dividere a metà
contrastTo divide in half / equally.
fare la parte del padrone
similarTo act like the boss/master.
prendere l'osso
contrastTo get the bone (the worst part).
