Signification
To move on from a bad experience.
Contexte culturel
The phrase reflects the 'arte di arrangiarsi' (the art of making do). When things go wrong, Italians value the ability to pivot and leave the mess behind. In the South, family honor is big, but so is the 'scurdàmmoce 'o ppassato' (let's forget the past) philosophy, famous in Neapolitan songs. In startup culture in Milan, this phrase is used to encourage 'failing fast'. If a project fails, you 'buttarsi tutto alle spalle' and move to the next 'challenge'. The 'mentalità vincente' (winning mentality) in Italian football requires players to 'buttarsi alle spalle' a missed goal within seconds.
Use 'Tutto'
Adding 'tutto' (everything) makes you sound much more like a native. 'Mi sono buttato tutto alle spalle' is the most common way to say you've moved on.
Reflexive Agreement
Don't forget that if you are a woman, you must say 'Mi sono buttatA'. This is a very common B1 error.
Signification
To move on from a bad experience.
Use 'Tutto'
Adding 'tutto' (everything) makes you sound much more like a native. 'Mi sono buttato tutto alle spalle' is the most common way to say you've moved on.
Reflexive Agreement
Don't forget that if you are a woman, you must say 'Mi sono buttatA'. This is a very common B1 error.
The 'Basta' Moment
This phrase is often preceded by the word 'Basta!' (Enough!). It signals the exact moment of decision.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'buttarsi' in the Passato Prossimo.
Maria è molto forte: lei ______ (buttarsi) tutto alle spalle dopo il licenziamento.
Since Maria is female and the verb is reflexive, we use 'essere' and the past participle must end in 'a'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to tell a friend to move on from a breakup?
Tuo fratello ti ha lasciato?
This uses the correct reflexive form and the standard idiomatic phrase.
Match the Italian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
Each phrase has a specific nuance of 'moving on'.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Non riesco a dimenticare l'errore che ho fatto al lavoro. B: Dai, non pensarci più. _________ e guarda al futuro!
The object is 'l'errore' (masculine singular), so the pronoun is 'lo'. Combined with the imperative 'buttati', it becomes 'buttatelo'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesMaria è molto forte: lei ______ (buttarsi) tutto alle spalle dopo il licenziamento.
Since Maria is female and the verb is reflexive, we use 'essere' and the past participle must end in 'a'.
Tuo fratello ti ha lasciato?
This uses the correct reflexive form and the standard idiomatic phrase.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Each phrase has a specific nuance of 'moving on'.
A: Non riesco a dimenticare l'errore che ho fatto al lavoro. B: Dai, non pensarci più. _________ e guarda al futuro!
The object is 'l'errore' (masculine singular), so the pronoun is 'lo'. Combined with the imperative 'buttati', it becomes 'buttatelo'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend. In very formal writing, use 'superare'.
No, you only 'throw' bad things behind you. You wouldn't throw a good memory behind your shoulders.
'Buttarsi' is more active and decisive. 'Lasciarsi' is more passive, like the past is naturally fading away.
Yes, usually. Use 'tutto', 'la storia', 'l'errore', etc. If you don't, the sentence feels incomplete.
No. Even though 'schiena' means back, the idiom is fixed with 'spalle' (shoulders).
Expressions liées
voltare pagina
similarTo turn the page
mettere una pietra sopra
synonymTo put a stone over something
lasciarsi alle spalle
similarTo leave behind
fregarsene
specialized formTo not give a damn
