Bedeutung
Doing something secretly or illegally.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The concept of 'furbizia' (cunning) is often associated with 'sotto banco'. While not always seen as 'good', being 'furbo' enough to get things done 'sotto banco' is sometimes admired as a survival skill against a rigid system. The 'banco' is the center of a student's universe. Passing notes 'sotto banco' is a rite of passage for Italian teenagers, representing their first act of rebellion against authority. In regions with high informal economies, 'sotto banco' transactions are a daily reality. It's often linked to the 'economia del vicolo' (alleyway economy) where trust is local. Journalists use 'sottobanco' to describe political scandals (Tangentopoli style). It suggests a 'deep state' or hidden power structures (poteri forti).
Legal Implications
Be careful using this in a professional email; it implies you are doing something illegal.
The 'Nero' Connection
If you're talking about money, 'pagare sotto banco' and 'pagare in nero' are interchangeable.
Bedeutung
Doing something secretly or illegally.
Legal Implications
Be careful using this in a professional email; it implies you are doing something illegal.
The 'Nero' Connection
If you're talking about money, 'pagare sotto banco' and 'pagare in nero' are interchangeable.
School Nostalgia
Using this with older Italians often triggers funny stories about their school days.
Spelling
Both 'sotto banco' and 'sottobanco' are correct, but the latter is more common in modern newspapers.
Teste dich selbst
Completa la frase con la forma corretta dell'idioma.
Non volevano pagare le tasse, quindi hanno venduto la merce ________.
'Sotto banco' is the fixed idiomatic form for secret/illegal sales.
Quale situazione descrive meglio un'azione 'sotto banco'?
Scegli l'opzione corretta:
This is a classic example of an unofficial, tax-evading transaction.
Completa il dialogo tra due colleghi.
A: 'Come ha fatto Marco a sapere del licenziamento?' B: 'Qualcuno gli ha passato l'informazione ________.'
The context implies a secret leak of information.
Abbina l'espressione al suo sinonimo o contesto.
Match the following:
'In nero' (off the books) is a very close synonym in financial contexts.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Sotto Banco vs. Alla Luce del Sole
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenNon volevano pagare le tasse, quindi hanno venduto la merce ________.
'Sotto banco' is the fixed idiomatic form for secret/illegal sales.
Scegli l'opzione corretta:
This is a classic example of an unofficial, tax-evading transaction.
A: 'Come ha fatto Marco a sapere del licenziamento?' B: 'Qualcuno gli ha passato l'informazione ________.'
The context implies a secret leak of information.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
'In nero' (off the books) is a very close synonym in financial contexts.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 FragenUsually, yes. It implies avoiding rules. However, in a school context, it's seen as a harmless prank.
Not really. Use 'di nascosto' or 'in segreto'. 'Sotto banco' implies something slightly 'dirty' or unofficial.
The best opposite is 'alla luce del sole' (in the light of the sun), meaning transparently.
It is used equally across the country, as it's standard Italian.
Yes, 'il sottobanco' can refer to the act of secret dealing itself.
You can say 'una mazzetta sotto banco'.
Yes, like sending a 'sotto banco' DM to avoid a public argument.
It's classified as 'colloquial/idiomatic', but it's very close to slang in certain contexts.
No, that's a literal translation from English and sounds very wrong in Italian.
Because it refers to a school desk or a shop counter, which are 'banchi'.
Very common to describe unfair competition or hidden clauses.
Yes, 'parlare sotto banco' means to whisper or talk secretly.
It can be both. One word is more modern.
It's C1 because of the cultural nuances, though the words are simple.
Verwandte Redewendungen
In nero
synonymOff the books / without taxes
Di nascosto
similarSecretly
Alla luce del sole
contrastIn broad daylight / transparently
Sotto mano
similarAt hand / nearby
Acqua in bocca
builds onKeep it a secret
