Bedeutung
To be realistic and practical.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Italian SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), being 'con i piedi per terra' is often valued more than being a 'visionary'. It implies financial caution and reliability. In the South, this phrase is often linked to family honor and not 'making the step longer than the leg' (fare il passo più lungo della gamba). Modern Italian youth use this phrase ironically on social media when someone posts an overly filtered or 'fake' lifestyle photo. In Tuscany, you might hear 'stare in terra' as a shorter, more dialectal version, but 'piedi per terra' remains the national standard.
Use it in Interviews
It's a great way to describe your work ethic. It sounds professional and reliable.
Don't over-roll the 'R'
While 'terra' has a double R, don't make it sound like a motor. A quick, sharp roll is enough.
Bedeutung
To be realistic and practical.
Use it in Interviews
It's a great way to describe your work ethic. It sounds professional and reliable.
Don't over-roll the 'R'
While 'terra' has a double R, don't make it sound like a motor. A quick, sharp roll is enough.
The 'Coi' contraction
Using 'coi' instead of 'con i' makes you sound much more like a native speaker in casual conversation.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'stare'.
Se vuoi avere successo negli affari, tu ______ sempre stare con i piedi per terra.
The sentence requires a modal verb like 'devi' (you must) to make sense with the infinitive 'stare'.
Which preposition is correct in this idiom?
Dobbiamo rimanere con i piedi ____ terra.
The fixed idiom in Italian uses 'per terra'.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: Your friend wants to quit their job to become a professional kite flyer without any experience.
Both 'stai con i piedi per terra' (be realistic) and 'hai la testa tra le nuvole' (you have your head in the clouds) are appropriate here.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ho deciso, compro quella villa da 2 milioni!' B: 'Ma se non hai un euro! ______!'
This is the perfect context for a reality check.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenSe vuoi avere successo negli affari, tu ______ sempre stare con i piedi per terra.
The sentence requires a modal verb like 'devi' (you must) to make sense with the infinitive 'stare'.
Dobbiamo rimanere con i piedi ____ terra.
The fixed idiom in Italian uses 'per terra'.
Situation: Your friend wants to quit their job to become a professional kite flyer without any experience.
Both 'stai con i piedi per terra' (be realistic) and 'hai la testa tra le nuvole' (you have your head in the clouds) are appropriate here.
A: 'Ho deciso, compro quella villa da 2 milioni!' B: 'Ma se non hai un euro! ______!'
This is the perfect context for a reality check.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes! 'Rimanere con i piedi per terra' is very common and means 'to remain grounded'. It's often used after a success.
It depends on the tone. It can be friendly advice or a sharp reality check. Use it carefully with superiors.
The most common opposite is 'avere la testa tra le nuvole' (to have your head in the clouds).
'Con i' is more formal and better for writing. 'Coi' is very common in spoken Italian.
Technically yes, but it sounds like a joke. People will assume you mean the idiom.
Absolutely. It's one of the most common idioms in Italian business to discuss budgets and goals.
Yes, it's the closest equivalent to the English 'down to earth' or 'grounded'.
No, that sounds like you are an alien standing on the planet Earth. Use 'per terra'.
Yes, it's perfect for intermediate learners to start sounding more idiomatic.
Yes: 'Sono rimasto con i piedi per terra' (I stayed grounded).
Verwandte Redewendungen
Avere la testa tra le nuvole
contrastTo have one's head in the clouds.
Fare il passo più lungo della gamba
similarTo bite off more than one can chew.
Essere terra terra
similarTo be very basic or even vulgar.
Scendere dalle nuvole
builds onTo come down from the clouds.
