Signification
An estimation by sight.
Contexte culturel
In Italy, cooking 'a occhio' is a sign of a 'brava massaia' (good housewife) or a skilled chef. Following a recipe too strictly is often seen as a sign that you don't 'feel' the food. The concept of 'occhio clinico' is highly respected in Italian craftsmanship, from tailoring to carpentry. It implies a level of expertise where the eye is more accurate than a machine. Italians often prefer 'a occhio' estimates in social planning to allow for 'flessibilità' (flexibility). Being too precise with time or money can sometimes feel 'freddo' (cold). In local Italian markets, vendors might sell produce 'a occhio' if the scale is busy, or give you a 'manciata' (handful) extra based on a visual guess.
Use it to sound native
If you aren't sure of a number, add 'a occhio' at the end. It makes you sound more confident in your Italian even if your math is wrong!
Don't use with 'il'
Never say 'all'occhio'. The idiom is fixed without the article.
Signification
An estimation by sight.
Use it to sound native
If you aren't sure of a number, add 'a occhio' at the end. It makes you sound more confident in your Italian even if your math is wrong!
Don't use with 'il'
Never say 'all'occhio'. The idiom is fixed without the article.
The Nonna Rule
If an Italian grandmother gives you a recipe and says 'fai a occhio', she is giving you her highest level of trust.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct idiom.
Non ho la bilancia, quindi aggiungo lo zucchero ___.
The correct preposition is 'a'.
In which situation is 'a occhio' appropriate?
Choose the best context:
'A occhio' is for informal, non-critical estimates.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: 'Quanto è lungo il tavolo?' B: 'Non lo so esattamente, ma ___ saranno due metri.'
'A occhio' is used to estimate length or distance.
Match the Italian phrase to its English equivalent.
Match them up:
These are distinct but related expressions.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
When to use 'A Occhio'
Cooking
- • Salt
- • Oil
- • Pasta quantity
Distances
- • Kilometers
- • Meters
- • Steps
Money
- • Bills
- • Prices
- • Budgets
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesNon ho la bilancia, quindi aggiungo lo zucchero ___.
The correct preposition is 'a'.
Choose the best context:
'A occhio' is for informal, non-critical estimates.
A: 'Quanto è lungo il tavolo?' B: 'Non lo so esattamente, ma ___ saranno due metri.'
'A occhio' is used to estimate length or distance.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are distinct but related expressions.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsNo, it's neutral to informal. Use 'circa' or 'approssimativamente' in formal writing.
Yes! 'A occhio e croce, ci vediamo tra un'ora' is very common.
They are essentially the same, but 'a occhio e croce' is more idiomatic and common in speech.
No, the idiom is always singular: 'a occhio'.
Yes, exactly. It's the perfect translation for 'eyeballing it'.
Expressions liées
a occhio e croce
similarroughly / give or take
a spanne
similarroughly / by hand-spans
a naso
similarby intuition / by scent
a occhio nudo
specialized formwith the naked eye
