Signification
To become suddenly angry.
Contexte culturel
In Italy, expressing anger can be quite vocal and gestural. 'Perdere le staffe' often involves loud talking and hand movements, which might be interpreted as more aggressive in Northern Europe but is often just 'venting' in Italy. In Tuscany, you might hear variations or even more colorful local idioms for anger, but 'perdere le staffe' remains the standard 'clean' way to describe a meltdown. Despite the passionate stereotype, in a formal Italian business meeting, losing your stirrups is seen as a lack of 'professionalità'. It can damage your reputation significantly. Italian political talk shows (like 'Porta a Porta') are famous for guests who 'perdono le staffe'. It is almost a part of the entertainment format.
Use it for others
It's often easier and more common to use this to describe someone else's behavior than your own.
Plural only!
Never say 'la staffa'. It sounds like you're talking about a single physical object, not the idiom.
Signification
To become suddenly angry.
Use it for others
It's often easier and more common to use this to describe someone else's behavior than your own.
Plural only!
Never say 'la staffa'. It sounds like you're talking about a single physical object, not the idiom.
The Causative
Master 'Mi fai perdere le staffe' to express frustration with someone directly but idiomatically.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Quando ho visto il conto del meccanico, io ________ le staffe.
The 'passato prossimo' (ho perso) is used for a specific completed action in the past.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Select the correct option:
The idiom always uses the feminine plural 'le staffe'.
Match the reaction to the situation.
Situazione: Il tuo computer si rompe mentre scrivi la tesi.
Losing one's cool is a natural (if unfortunate) reaction to a major technical failure.
Fill in the missing line.
A: 'Perché il capo urlava così tanto?' B: '________________________'
The context of shouting ('urlava') suggests losing one's temper.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesQuando ho visto il conto del meccanico, io ________ le staffe.
The 'passato prossimo' (ho perso) is used for a specific completed action in the past.
Select the correct option:
The idiom always uses the feminine plural 'le staffe'.
Situazione: Il tuo computer si rompe mentre scrivi la tesi.
Losing one's cool is a natural (if unfortunate) reaction to a major technical failure.
A: 'Perché il capo urlava così tanto?' B: '________________________'
The context of shouting ('urlava') suggests losing one's temper.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's not rude or vulgar. It's a standard idiom. However, the act of losing your cool might be seen as rude depending on the context.
Yes, you can say 'Il bambino ha perso le staffe perché voleva il gelato'.
'Incazzarsi' is slang and can be considered vulgar (from 'cazzo'). 'Perdere le staffe' is safe for all audiences.
Usually, yes. It implies an outward, visible expression of anger, not just feeling it internally.
Yes, 'perduto' is the alternative past participle of 'perdere', but 'perso' is much more common in modern Italian.
No, 'perdere la staffa' is not an idiom and would be confusing to a native speaker.
It's common in journalism and novels, but you might avoid it in a strictly legal or scientific document.
The most common opposite is 'mantenere la calma' or 'restare calmo'.
Metaphorically, yes. 'Il mio computer ha perso le staffe' would be a funny way to say it's glitching out.
You say: 'Mi hai fatto perdere le staffe'.
Expressions liées
Andare su tutte le furie
synonymTo become extremely furious.
Uscire dai gangheri
similarTo lose one's temper (literally: to come off the hinges).
Mantenere la calma
contrastTo stay calm.
Far perdere le staffe
builds onTo make someone else lose their cool.
