Signification
To be irritable or oppositional.
Contexte culturel
The concept of 'la luna' (the moon) is deeply embedded in Italian culture. Farmers still plant according to the moon, and people's moods are often blamed on it. Being 'di traverso' is just one of many lunar idioms. In the South, being 'di traverso' can sometimes imply a more serious stubbornness or 'testardaggine.' It's not just a mood, but a refusal to budge on a family or social issue. Italians value 'armonia' (harmony) in the workplace. Someone who is 'di traverso' is seen as a threat to the 'bella figura' of the team, and colleagues will often try to 'addolcire' (sweeten) them up with a coffee. Many 20th-century Italian authors (like Pavese or Calvino) use 'di traverso' to describe the existential friction between characters and their environment.
The Coffee Cure
If you tell an Italian you are 'di traverso,' they will almost certainly offer you a coffee to fix it.
Don't Choke!
Remember: 'Il boccone mi è andato di traverso' means you literally choked on a piece of food.
Signification
To be irritable or oppositional.
The Coffee Cure
If you tell an Italian you are 'di traverso,' they will almost certainly offer you a coffee to fix it.
Don't Choke!
Remember: 'Il boccone mi è andato di traverso' means you literally choked on a piece of food.
Mettersi vs Essere
Use 'mettersi' if someone is being difficult on purpose to stop you from doing something.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'essere di traverso'.
Oggi non parlare con Maria, lei _________.
We use 'essere' to describe a person's mood. 'Va di traverso' would mean she is choking!
Which sentence correctly describes someone being uncooperative in a meeting?
Choose the best option:
'Mettersi di traverso' is the best way to describe active opposition or being difficult.
Fill in the missing line in the dialogue.
A: 'Scusa se ti ho risposto male prima.' B: 'Non preoccuparti, avevo capito che _________.'
The imperfect 'eri' is used here to describe the state you were in earlier.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You wake up and feel like you want to argue with everyone.
This is the idiomatic way to describe waking up in a foul mood.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesOggi non parlare con Maria, lei _________.
We use 'essere' to describe a person's mood. 'Va di traverso' would mean she is choking!
Choose the best option:
'Mettersi di traverso' is the best way to describe active opposition or being difficult.
A: 'Scusa se ti ho risposto male prima.' B: 'Non preoccuparti, avevo capito che _________.'
The imperfect 'eri' is used here to describe the state you were in earlier.
Situation: You wake up and feel like you want to argue with everyone.
This is the idiomatic way to describe waking up in a foul mood.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it's very common to say a child is 'di traverso' when they are being fussy or throwing a tantrum.
It's informal but not rude. It's a descriptive way to talk about a mood. However, don't say it to your boss's face!
'Arrabbiato' means angry. 'Di traverso' is more about being grumpy, irritable, or uncooperative without necessarily being full-on angry.
Yes! 'Oggi siamo tutti di traverso' (Today we are all grumpy).
No, it is understood and used throughout all of Italy.
Yes, 'essere storto' or 'avere la giornata storta' are very similar synonyms.
Yes, you can say a dog or cat is 'di traverso' if they are acting unusually irritable.
You can say 'Mi sono alzato con la luna di traverso' or 'Mi sono alzato con il piede sbagliato.'
It functions as an adverbial phrase describing the state of the subject.
Usually, we use 'andare di traverso' for situations. 'La giornata è andata di traverso' (The day went wrong).
Expressions liées
avere la luna storta
synonymTo be in a bad mood.
andare di traverso
similarTo go wrong / To choke.
mettersi di traverso
builds onTo block or oppose something.
alzarsi col piede sbagliato
similarTo wake up on the wrong side of the bed.
