Bedeutung
To alert someone of a danger.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Italians often use this phrase as a form of social bonding. Warning someone is a sign that you consider them part of your 'inner circle.' The 'Protezione Civile' (Civil Protection) is the most frequent user of this phrase in public life, issuing 'bollettini' to warn of natural disasters. In Italian business, being 'messo in guardia' by a colleague is often a subtle way of navigating office politics without being explicitly negative. The phrase appears in classic Italian literature to denote moral warnings, often from a wise elder to a young protagonist.
The 'Da' Rule
Always remember that 'mettere in guardia' is followed by 'da' when you are warning someone *about* something negative.
Not for Threats
Don't use this to threaten someone. If you say 'Ti metto in guardia!' to someone you're angry with, it sounds like you're giving them helpful advice, which ruins your point!
Bedeutung
To alert someone of a danger.
The 'Da' Rule
Always remember that 'mettere in guardia' is followed by 'da' when you are warning someone *about* something negative.
Not for Threats
Don't use this to threaten someone. If you say 'Ti metto in guardia!' to someone you're angry with, it sounds like you're giving them helpful advice, which ruins your point!
Use it in Emails
It's a great phrase for professional emails when you want to flag a potential issue without sounding too aggressive.
Listen for it in News
You will hear this phrase almost every day on Italian news (TG1, TG5) regarding weather or the economy.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition (da, dal, contro, sui).
Il telegiornale mette in guardia i cittadini ____ possibili truffe telefoniche.
We use 'da' to indicate the source of the danger.
Which sentence is the most natural way to warn a friend about a person?
Hai intenzione di uscire con lui?
'Mettere in guardia da' is the standard idiomatic construction for people.
Match the warning to the situation.
Situation: A friend is buying a very cheap car from a stranger.
The danger in this situation is the person selling the car.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Voglio investire tutti i miei risparmi in questa nuova app.' B: 'Aspetta! ________ contro i rischi di investimenti così volatili.'
The context of financial risk requires a warning expression.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Mettere vs. Stare
Common Contexts
Finance
- • Truffe
- • Investimenti
- • Banche
Health
- • Fumo
- • Virus
- • Sedentarietà
Weather
- • Neve
- • Temporali
- • Caldo
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenIl telegiornale mette in guardia i cittadini ____ possibili truffe telefoniche.
We use 'da' to indicate the source of the danger.
Hai intenzione di uscire con lui?
'Mettere in guardia da' is the standard idiomatic construction for people.
Situation: A friend is buying a very cheap car from a stranger.
The danger in this situation is the person selling the car.
A: 'Voglio investire tutti i miei risparmi in questa nuova app.' B: 'Aspetta! ________ contro i rischi di investimenti così volatili.'
The context of financial risk requires a warning expression.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, it is almost exclusively used for dangers, risks, or negative outcomes. You wouldn't 'warn' someone about a surprise party.
'Avvertire' is a general verb for informing or warning. 'Mettere in guardia' is more idiomatic and emphasizes the protective nature of the warning.
It is neutral. It works in a conversation with your grandmother and in a formal report by the government.
It's grammatically awkward. It's better to say 'mettere in guardia dal fatto che...' or just use a colon.
Use 'da'. For example: 'Ti metto in guardia da lui.'
The action is usually described as 'l'atto di mettere in guardia'. There isn't a single common noun like 'warning' (which would be 'avvertimento').
Yes, like warning a friend that the coffee is very hot, though 'attento' is more common for immediate physical things.
Yes, specifically from fencing and sword fighting stances.
Yes, but it's more formal and less common in daily speech.
You use the passive: 'Sono stato messo in guardia.'
Yes, to show you are aware of risks. 'Metto sempre in guardia il mio team dai rischi di...' sounds very professional.
Yes, it is a standard Italian expression used from Milan to Palermo.
Verwandte Redewendungen
stare in guardia
similarto be on one's guard / to be alert
abbassare la guardia
contrastto let one's guard down
mettere sull'avviso
synonymto alert / to put on notice
avvertire
similarto warn / to inform
allertare
specialized formto alert (emergency services)
