Signification
A situation that is not beneficial.
Contexte culturel
In Italy, business is often personal. A 'brutto affare' isn't just a loss of money; it's often seen as a loss of face or a failure to read the other person correctly. Post-war Italian films often use this phrase to describe the desperate economic conditions of the time. It captures the 'weary' tone of the era. In Tuscany, you might hear 'brutta faccenda' even more frequently than 'brutto affare', but both are understood perfectly. Italians use this phrase in comments to express solidarity or shared frustration about national issues like taxes or bureaucracy.
Use it as an exclamation
You don't always need a full sentence. Just saying 'Che brutto affare!' when you hear bad news makes you sound very native.
Don't say 'cattivo affare'
While 'cattivo' means bad, it's almost never used in this specific idiom. Stick to 'brutto'.
Signification
A situation that is not beneficial.
Use it as an exclamation
You don't always need a full sentence. Just saying 'Che brutto affare!' when you hear bad news makes you sound very native.
Don't say 'cattivo affare'
While 'cattivo' means bad, it's almost never used in this specific idiom. Stick to 'brutto'.
The 'Affare Fatto' trap
Remember that 'Affare fatto!' is what you say when you agree on something good. Don't say it if you're unhappy!
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Ho comprato un orologio che non funziona. È stato proprio un ___ ___.
The phrase 'brutto affare' is used to describe a bad purchase.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'essere un brutto affare'?
Quale situazione è un 'brutto affare'?
A 'brutto affare' is a serious negative situation with consequences.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Il capo ha scoperto che abbiamo fatto un errore nel contratto.' B: 'Accidenti, ___!'
The speaker is reacting to bad news, so 'che brutto affare' is the appropriate exclamation.
Match the phrase to the context.
Match 'È un brutto affare' with the correct context.
The phrase always denotes a negative or problematic situation.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesHo comprato un orologio che non funziona. È stato proprio un ___ ___.
The phrase 'brutto affare' is used to describe a bad purchase.
Quale situazione è un 'brutto affare'?
A 'brutto affare' is a serious negative situation with consequences.
A: 'Il capo ha scoperto che abbiamo fatto un errore nel contratto.' B: 'Accidenti, ___!'
The speaker is reacting to bad news, so 'che brutto affare' is the appropriate exclamation.
Match 'È un brutto affare' with the correct context.
The phrase always denotes a negative or problematic situation.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but it's metaphorical. 'Lui è un brutto affare' means 'He is trouble' or 'Dealing with him is a bad idea.'
Yes, it's neutral. You can use it to describe a project that isn't going well.
The opposite is 'un buon affare' (a good deal) or 'un affarone' (a great bargain).
No, it can be about relationships, health, weather, or any difficult situation.
No, 'business' is used in Italian but not in this idiom. Use 'affare'.
Similar, but 'un brutto affare' implies a situation with a process or a history, while 'un guaio' is just the trouble itself.
You can say 'È un pasticcio' or 'È un brutto affare'.
Yes, it is a standard Italian expression used from Milan to Sicily.
Yes, 'È un bruttissimo affare' adds emphasis to how bad the situation is.
'Affare' has a commercial origin; 'faccenda' has a domestic/chore origin. They are often interchangeable in idioms.
Expressions liées
affare fatto
contrastDeal done / It's a bargain
una brutta faccenda
synonymA bad matter
un affarone
contrastA great deal
farsi gli affari propri
builds onTo mind one's own business
mettersi nei guai
similarTo get into trouble
