Significado
To treat something as unimportant.
Contexto cultural
In Italy, football is taken very seriously. When a big team like Juventus or Inter loses to a small team, the media always uses 'prendere sotto gamba' to criticize the players' lack of humility. Italian universities often have oral exams that can be very unpredictable. Professors frequently warn students not to take the 'easy' looking modules lightly. Italians can be quite health-conscious (or hypochondriac). Taking a 'colpo d'aria' (a draft of air) lightly is a classic example of taking something 'sotto gamba' that could lead to illness. In Italian business culture, building relationships is key. Taking a first meeting 'sotto gamba' by not dressing appropriately or not researching the partner is a major faux pas.
Use it for warnings
This phrase is most powerful in the negative imperative: 'Non prenderlo sotto gamba!' It sounds like a wise piece of advice.
Don't use with people you hate
If you take a person 'sotto gamba,' it implies you think they are weak or unimportant. It can be quite insulting if said directly to them.
Significado
To treat something as unimportant.
Use it for warnings
This phrase is most powerful in the negative imperative: 'Non prenderlo sotto gamba!' It sounds like a wise piece of advice.
Don't use with people you hate
If you take a person 'sotto gamba,' it implies you think they are weak or unimportant. It can be quite insulting if said directly to them.
Combine with 'rischio'
A very natural collocation is 'prendere sotto gamba un rischio' (to underestimate a risk).
Ponte a prueba
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'prendere sotto gamba'.
L'anno scorso, io ________ l'esame di guida e sono stato bocciato.
The sentence refers to 'l'anno scorso' (last year), so the past tense (passato prossimo) is required.
Which situation best describes 'prendere sotto gamba'?
Quale situazione è un esempio di 'prendere sotto gamba'?
This shows underestimation of a challenge due to overconfidence.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Domani gioco contro il numero 100 del mondo, vincerò facilmente.' B: 'Stai attento, non ________!'
The correct idiom is 'prendere sotto gamba'.
Match the warning to the situation.
Situazione: Un amico ignora un forte mal di denti.
The idiom is used to warn against underestimating health issues.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosL'anno scorso, io ________ l'esame di guida e sono stato bocciato.
The sentence refers to 'l'anno scorso' (last year), so the past tense (passato prossimo) is required.
Quale situazione è un esempio di 'prendere sotto gamba'?
This shows underestimation of a challenge due to overconfidence.
A: 'Domani gioco contro il numero 100 del mondo, vincerò facilmente.' B: 'Stai attento, non ________!'
The correct idiom is 'prendere sotto gamba'.
Situazione: Un amico ignora un forte mal di denti.
The idiom is used to warn against underestimating health issues.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
5 preguntasBoth are correct! 'Sotto gamba' is more traditional, but 'sottogamba' is very common in modern writing.
No, it almost always has a negative connotation because it implies a mistake or a lack of judgment.
Yes, but 'sottovalutare' is more formal. 'Prendere sotto gamba' is more idiomatic and common in conversation.
No, 'prendere sotto braccio' means to take someone by the arm (literally). It's not an idiom for underestimating.
Not inherently, but telling someone they took something 'sotto gamba' is a criticism of their effort.
Frases relacionadas
Prendere alla leggera
synonymTo take lightly.
Sottovalutare
synonymTo underestimate.
Prendere di petto
contrastTo tackle something head-on with courage.
Dormire sugli allori
similarTo rest on one's laurels.
