B1 Idiom ニュートラル

essere sulle spine

to be on pins and needles

意味

Feeling anxious or nervous about something.

🌍

文化的背景

Italians often use hand gestures to accompany this phrase, such as shaking the hand as if it's hot or pointing to their chest to indicate 'ansia'. The trope of 'the long wait' is a staple of Italian storytelling, from the desert in 'The Desert of the Tartars' to the bureaucratic waits in Fellini films. During the 'Mondiali' (World Cup), the entire nation is 'sulle spine'. It's a collective emotional state. In the South, you might hear more visceral variations, but 'essere sulle spine' remains the standard understood by everyone from Milan to Sicily.

🎯

Use with 'Tenere'

If you want to sound very natural, use 'Non tenermi sulle spine!' when someone is slow to give you information.

⚠️

Plural Only

Never say 'sulla spina'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating literally from another language.

意味

Feeling anxious or nervous about something.

🎯

Use with 'Tenere'

If you want to sound very natural, use 'Non tenermi sulle spine!' when someone is slow to give you information.

⚠️

Plural Only

Never say 'sulla spina'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating literally from another language.

💬

Social Media

You'll often see this in Instagram captions or WhatsApp when people are waiting for a big announcement.

自分をテスト

Completa la frase con la forma corretta di 'essere sulle spine'.

Da quando ho inviato il messaggio, _________ (io) _________.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: sono sulle spine

The subject is 'io' (I), so the verb 'essere' must be 'sono'.

Quale frase è corretta?

Scegli l'opzione grammaticalmente corretta.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Non tenermi sulle spine.

The idiom requires the plural 'spine' and the articulated preposition 'sulle'.

In quale situazione useresti 'essere sulle spine'?

Abbina la situazione all'idioma.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Stai aspettando di sapere se hai vinto la lotteria.

The idiom is used for anxious waiting and suspense.

Completa il dialogo.

A: 'Allora, ti hanno dato il lavoro?' B: 'Non lo so ancora, mi fanno _________ fino a domani.'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: stare sulle spine

While 'essere' is possible, 'stare' or 'mi tengono' are more common when describing a state imposed by others.

🎉 スコア: /4

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練習問題バンク

4 問題
Completa la frase con la forma corretta di 'essere sulle spine'. Fill Blank A2

Da quando ho inviato il messaggio, _________ (io) _________.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: sono sulle spine

The subject is 'io' (I), so the verb 'essere' must be 'sono'.

Quale frase è corretta? Choose B1

Scegli l'opzione grammaticalmente corretta.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Non tenermi sulle spine.

The idiom requires the plural 'spine' and the articulated preposition 'sulle'.

In quale situazione useresti 'essere sulle spine'? situation_matching A2

Abbina la situazione all'idioma.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Stai aspettando di sapere se hai vinto la lotteria.

The idiom is used for anxious waiting and suspense.

Completa il dialogo. dialogue_completion B1

A: 'Allora, ti hanno dato il lavoro?' B: 'Non lo so ancora, mi fanno _________ fino a domani.'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: stare sulle spine

While 'essere' is possible, 'stare' or 'mi tengono' are more common when describing a state imposed by others.

🎉 スコア: /4

よくある質問

10 問

Both are correct. 'Essere' is more common for the general state, while 'stare' emphasizes the duration of the feeling.

Yes! You can be 'sulle spine' for a surprise party or a gift. It just means you are anxious to know.

It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

The closest is 'to be on pins and needles' or 'to be in suspense'.

Yes, it means 'you are putting me on edge/making me anxious'.

Yes, 'spina dorsale' is the backbone, but in this idiom, it refers to the thorns of a plant.

Non tenermi sulle spine!

No, that's 'avere paura'. 'Sulle spine' requires waiting for something.

Yes, for example, waiting for a contract to be signed.

Essere tranquilli or essere sereni.

関連フレーズ

🔗

stare sui carboni ardenti

similar

To be on hot coals

🔗

avere i nervi a fior di pelle

builds on

To be extremely edgy

🔗

non stare nella pelle

similar

To be jumping out of one's skin

🔗

mettere l'ansia

related

To cause anxiety

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