Significado
To have made good progress on a task.
Contexto cultural
In Italian offices, 'essere a buon punto' is a diplomatic way to answer a boss. It avoids the pressure of a hard deadline while showing you aren't slacking off. When meeting friends, if someone is late and says they are 'a buon punto' with getting ready, it usually means they will be at least another 15 minutes. Historically, Italian artisans used this to describe the stage where the 'structure' of a work was solid, reflecting the value of 'mestiere' (craft). In Rome, you might hear 'stare a buon punto' instead of 'essere,' reflecting the local preference for the verb 'stare' for states.
The 'Con' Connection
Always use 'con' to specify what you are making progress on. It makes you sound much more native than just saying the phrase alone.
Avoid 'In'
English speakers often say 'in a good point.' In Italian, it is always 'a' (at).
Significado
To have made good progress on a task.
The 'Con' Connection
Always use 'con' to specify what you are making progress on. It makes you sound much more native than just saying the phrase alone.
Avoid 'In'
English speakers often say 'in a good point.' In Italian, it is always 'a' (at).
Use 'Già'
Adding 'già' (already) before 'a buon punto' is a great way to sound confident and efficient.
The Reassurance Factor
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone 'don't worry, I'm working on it' without being too specific.
Ponte a prueba
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'essere' and the phrase.
Noi _________ con l'organizzazione del viaggio.
We need the first person plural of 'essere' (siamo) and the correct preposition 'a' with the truncated 'buon'.
Which is the most natural response to 'A che punto sei con la tesi?'
A che punto sei con la tesi?
Option A uses the correct grammar and provides a logical context for 'good progress'.
Fill in the missing line in this office dialogue.
Capo: 'Il progetto deve essere pronto per domani.' Impiegato: 'Non si preoccupi, _________.'
The employee wants to reassure the boss, so 'sono a buon punto' is the best fit.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate situation.
When would you say 'Siamo a buon punto'?
The phrase implies significant progress but not completion.
Match the Italian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the pairs:
These are standard idiomatic equivalents.
Use the correct preposition.
Sei a buon punto ____ il tuo lavoro?
The preposition 'con' is used to link the progress to the specific task.
🎉 Puntuación: /6
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
6 ejerciciosNoi _________ con l'organizzazione del viaggio.
We need the first person plural of 'essere' (siamo) and the correct preposition 'a' with the truncated 'buon'.
A che punto sei con la tesi?
Option A uses the correct grammar and provides a logical context for 'good progress'.
Capo: 'Il progetto deve essere pronto per domani.' Impiegato: 'Non si preoccupi, _________.'
The employee wants to reassure the boss, so 'sono a buon punto' is the best fit.
When would you say 'Siamo a buon punto'?
The phrase implies significant progress but not completion.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
These are standard idiomatic equivalents.
Sei a buon punto ____ il tuo lavoro?
The preposition 'con' is used to link the progress to the specific task.
🎉 Puntuación: /6
Preguntas frecuentes
14 preguntasNo, it is only for tasks or processes. For age, you would say 'è in là con gli anni' (advanced in years).
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in professional writing to describe project status.
'Ottimo' means 'excellent,' so it implies you are even further along or the quality is very high.
Yes, adding the article 'un' is grammatically correct and very common.
Yes, 'Siamo a buon punto' is the plural usage. The phrase 'buon punto' stays singular because it refers to the stage reached by the group.
Only if you mean a 'good spot' for a specific purpose, like 'un buon punto per pescare' (a good spot for fishing).
You can say 'Non sono a un buon punto' or 'Sono ancora indietro.'
Not necessarily. It usually implies you are more than halfway, perhaps 60-80% done.
In some regional dialects (like Roman), 'stare a buon punto' is common, but 'essere' is the standard Italian form.
Yes, it appears in many Italian pop songs to describe the state of a relationship or a personal journey.
Yes, 'Sono a buon punto con il film' means you have watched a good portion of it.
The most common opposite is 'essere in alto mare' (to be far from finishing/lost).
Yes, 'buon' is the standard adjective in this idiom. You wouldn't say 'bello punto' or 'grande punto' in this context.
Yes, 'La gravidanza è a buon punto' means the pregnancy is well advanced.
Frases relacionadas
Essere a metà dell'opera
similarTo be halfway through.
Essere in alto mare
contrastTo be far from finishing or confused.
Essere in dirittura d'arrivo
builds onTo be in the final stretch.
Portarsi avanti
similarTo get ahead with work.
Fare il punto
relatedTo take stock of a situation.
Bruciare le tappe
specialized formTo skip stages/move very fast.
