Signification
Trying to intimidate others with tone.
Contexte culturel
In Italy, 'fare la voce grossa' is often seen as a social performance. It's part of the 'commedia' of daily life where people express their emotions and status through vocal intensity. In some southern regions, vocal volume and 'toughness' are traditionally linked to concepts of honor and respect, though this is changing in modern urban settings. Unlike some Nordic cultures where a quiet tone is preferred, in Italy, a manager might 'fare la voce grossa' to show they are passionate and involved in the project. The 'Mamma Italiana' is famous for 'fare la voce grossa' to keep the family in order, often followed immediately by a gesture of affection.
The 'Act' Factor
Remember that 'fare' implies you are doing something intentionally. It's often a performance to get a result.
Gender Agreement
Never change 'grossa' to 'grosso'. It always matches 'voce' (feminine).
Signification
Trying to intimidate others with tone.
The 'Act' Factor
Remember that 'fare' implies you are doing something intentionally. It's often a performance to get a result.
Gender Agreement
Never change 'grossa' to 'grosso'. It always matches 'voce' (feminine).
Use with 'con'
Always use the preposition 'con' to say who you are acting tough with: 'Fare la voce grossa con il gatto'.
The 'Bluff'
In Italy, if someone 'fa la voce grossa', they might just be venting. Don't always take it as a serious threat.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'fare'.
Ieri il direttore ______ la voce grossa con i dipendenti.
The sentence refers to 'ieri' (yesterday), so we need the passato prossimo.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct option:
'Voce' is feminine and the idiom uses 'fare' and 'grossa'.
Match the situation to the meaning of 'fare la voce grossa'.
A mother tells her child to clean his room using a stern tone.
In parenting, the idiom often describes a necessary show of firmness.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Perché gridi?' B: 'Non grido, sto solo ______ perché nessuno mi ascolta!'
The context of 'nobody listening' justifies the use of the idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Volume vs. Attitude
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesIeri il direttore ______ la voce grossa con i dipendenti.
The sentence refers to 'ieri' (yesterday), so we need the passato prossimo.
Choose the correct option:
'Voce' is feminine and the idiom uses 'fare' and 'grossa'.
A mother tells her child to clean his room using a stern tone.
In parenting, the idiom often describes a necessary show of firmness.
A: 'Perché gridi?' B: 'Non grido, sto solo ______ perché nessuno mi ascolta!'
The context of 'nobody listening' justifies the use of the idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes! You say 'Lei fa la voce grossa'. The phrase doesn't change based on the person's gender.
It can be. It implies they are being a bit of a bully or acting out a role. Use it carefully.
'Gridare' is just the physical act of shouting. 'Fare la voce grossa' is about the tone of authority and intimidation.
Sometimes. For example, 'Ho dovuto fare la voce grossa per proteggere i miei diritti.' Here, it's seen as necessary firmness.
Technically 'fare le voci grosse' exists, but it's almost never used. Stick to the singular idiom.
Not necessarily. It means they are *using* a deep or stern tone for a specific purpose.
Yes, very often to describe tough negotiations or a boss's behavior.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but you could say 'parlare con dolcezza' or 'fare la voce sottile' (though the latter is rare).
No, that's not a standard idiom. Stick to 'grossa'.
No, it's a standard idiom that everyone in Italy understands, from children to the elderly.
Use 'ho fatto', 'hai fatto', 'ha fatto', etc. Example: 'Il papà ha fatto la voce grossa'.
Yes! 'Il cane faceva la voce grossa (ringhiava) per difendere l'osso'.
Expressions liées
alzare la voce
similarTo raise one's voice/shout
fare il muso duro
similarTo take a hard/stern stance
abbassare la cresta
contrastTo stop being arrogant/to back down
battere i pugni
builds onTo insist forcefully
fare il gradasso
specialized formTo act like a braggart
