Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'essere alle strette' when you are cornered, out of options, or facing a difficult decision with no room to maneuver.
- Means: To be hard-pressed or in a very difficult situation.
- Used in: Financial crises, tough negotiations, or when facing a deadline.
- Don't confuse: With 'essere stretto', which refers to tight clothing.
내 수준에 맞는 설명:
뜻
To be in a difficult situation.
문화적 배경
The phrase reflects the historical reality of Italy's medieval towns, where narrow streets (vicoli) were used strategically for defense. Being 'alle strette' meant you were physically trapped by the architecture. In Italian business culture, 'mettere alle strette' is a common tactic in the final stages of a negotiation. It is seen as a way to cut through 'chiacchiere' (small talk) and get to the point. The theme of being 'alle strette' is central to the 'Commedia all'italiana' genre, where characters often find themselves in absurdly tight spots due to their own schemes. Italian newspapers frequently use this idiom in headlines about the Eurozone or national debt, personifying the country as being cornered by financial markets.
Use with 'Budget'
This is the most common way to say you're broke without sounding too dramatic or using slang.
Gender Check
Remember, it's always 'strette' (feminine plural). Never say 'stretto' even if you are a man.
Use with 'Budget'
This is the most common way to say you're broke without sounding too dramatic or using slang.
Gender Check
Remember, it's always 'strette' (feminine plural). Never say 'stretto' even if you are a man.
The 'Mettere' Trick
Use 'mettere alle strette' in negotiations to show you are a strong communicator.
셀프 테스트
Completa la frase con la forma corretta di 'essere alle strette'.
Dopo aver perso il lavoro, Marco ___ ___ ___ con i soldi.
Marco is the third person singular, so we use 'è'.
Quale frase usa l'idioma correttamente?
Scegli l'opzione corretta:
The idiom is used for pressure/cornering, not physical size, and uses 'alle'.
Completa il dialogo.
A: 'Puoi prestarmi 50 euro?' B: 'Mi dispiace, questo mese ___ ___ ___.'
The standard expression is 'essere alle strette'.
Abbina la situazione alla frase.
Situazione: Un detective interroga un ladro che non ha più scuse.
The thief is cornered and has no more excuses.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
5 연습 문제Dopo aver perso il lavoro, Marco ___ ___ ___ con i soldi.
Marco is the third person singular, so we use 'è'.
Scegli l'opzione corretta:
The idiom is used for pressure/cornering, not physical size, and uses 'alle'.
A: 'Puoi prestarmi 50 euro?' B: 'Mi dispiace, questo mese ___ ___ ___.'
The standard expression is 'essere alle strette'.
Situazione: Un detective interroga un ladro che non ha più scuse.
The thief is cornered and has no more excuses.
🎉 점수: /5
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문It is neutral. You can use it with friends, but also in a business meeting or a newspaper article.
Yes, 'essere alle strette con il tempo' is very common for deadlines.
'Essere nei guai' means you are in trouble (you did something wrong). 'Essere alle strette' means you are cornered or have no options.
No, that sounds like you are in a physical squeeze or a hug. Stick to the plural 'alle strette'.
Yes, it is a standard Italian idiom recognized from Milan to Sicily.
No, for a dress you say 'il vestito è stretto'.
Often, yes. If you use 'mettere alle strette', someone is definitely forcing you. If you use 'essere', it could just be the situation.
Yes, 'stare alla canna del gas' is a much more informal/slang way to say you are in a desperate financial spot.
Almost never. It describes a stressful or difficult situation.
Use 'essere' as the auxiliary: 'Sono stato alle strette'.
관련 표현
mettere alle strette
builds onTo corner someone
essere con l'acqua alla gola
similarTo be in deep trouble
avere le spalle al muro
synonymTo have one's back to the wall
essere in un vicolo cieco
similarTo be in a dead end
stringere la cinghia
relatedTo tighten the belt
어디서 쓸까?
Financial trouble
Giulia: Vuoi venire a cena fuori stasera?
Luca: Mi piacerebbe, ma questo mese sono un po' alle strette con i soldi.
Job Interview
Intervistatore: Perché ha lasciato il suo ultimo impiego così improvvisamente?
Candidato: L'azienda era alle strette e ha dovuto tagliare molti posti di lavoro.
Relationship Talk
Sara: Devi dirmi se mi ami o no. Adesso.
Paolo: Non mettermi alle strette, ho bisogno di tempo per pensare.
Police Investigation
Commissario: Sappiamo che eri lì quella notte. Parla!
Sospettato: Va bene, mi avete messo alle strette. Dirò tutto.
University Deadline
Studente 1: Hai finito la tesi?
Studente 2: No, sono alle strette! Devo consegnarla domani mattina.
Business Negotiation
Fornitore: I prezzi delle materie prime sono aumentati del 20%.
Cliente: Così ci mettete alle strette, non possiamo permetterci questo aumento.
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'strette' as 'straits' (like the Strait of Gibraltar). When you are in the straits, the water is narrow and dangerous.
시각적 연상
Imagine yourself in a very narrow medieval Italian alleyway (una calle stretta). There is a wall in front of you and a wall behind you. You have no room to move left or right.
Rhyme
Alle strette, niente ricette! (In a bind, no solutions to find!)
Story
Marco was a chef who forgot to order pasta for a big wedding. With only 10 minutes left and 100 hungry guests, he was 'alle strette'. He had to use his secret stash of rice and call it a 'special risotto' to survive.
In Other Languages
English has 'in a tight spot' or 'cornered'. Spanish uses 'entre la espada y la pared' (between the sword and the wall).
Word Web
챌린지
Try to use 'essere alle strette' in a sentence about your monthly budget or a work deadline today.
Review this phrase in 3 days, then 7 days. Focus on the difference between 'essere' (state) and 'mettere' (action).
발음
Stress on the first 'e'.
Double 'l' is held longer.
Double 't' is sharp; 'e' at the end is like 'eh'.
격식 수준 스펙트럼
L'ente si trova in una condizione di estrema ristrettezza finanziaria. (Business finance)
L'azienda è alle strette con il budget. (Business finance)
La ditta è messa male a soldi. (Business finance)
Stiamo a secco. (Business finance)
Derived from the feminine plural of the adjective 'stretto' (narrow). In ancient and medieval Italian, 'stretta' was a noun meaning a narrow pass or a gorge.
재미있는 사실
The word 'stretto' comes from the Latin 'strictus', which is also the root of the English word 'strict'.
문화 노트
The phrase reflects the historical reality of Italy's medieval towns, where narrow streets (vicoli) were used strategically for defense. Being 'alle strette' meant you were physically trapped by the architecture.
“In molti borghi medievali, le strette vie impedivano il passaggio dei carri.”
In Italian business culture, 'mettere alle strette' is a common tactic in the final stages of a negotiation. It is seen as a way to cut through 'chiacchiere' (small talk) and get to the point.
“Durante la trattativa, il fornitore ci ha messo alle strette sul prezzo.”
The theme of being 'alle strette' is central to the 'Commedia all'italiana' genre, where characters often find themselves in absurdly tight spots due to their own schemes.
“I personaggi di Alberto Sordi sono spesso alle strette a causa della loro pigrizia.”
Italian newspapers frequently use this idiom in headlines about the Eurozone or national debt, personifying the country as being cornered by financial markets.
“L'Italia alle strette: il debito pubblico continua a salire.”
대화 시작하기
Ti sei mai trovato alle strette con un esame o un lavoro?
Cosa fai quando sei alle strette con il budget a fine mese?
Pensi che mettere qualcuno alle strette sia un buon modo per ottenere la verità?
자주 하는 실수
Sono in strette.
Sono alle strette.
L1 Interference
Sono allo stretto.
Sono alle strette.
L1 Interference
Questa maglietta è alle strette.
Questa maglietta mi sta stretta.
L1 Interference
Mettere alle strette di qualcuno.
Mettere qualcuno alle strette.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Estar entre la espada y la pared
Spanish focuses on the threat, Italian focuses on the lack of space.
Être aux abois
French uses a hunting metaphor; Italian uses a geographical one.
In der Klemme stecken
German uses a mechanical tool metaphor; Italian uses a path metaphor.
絶体絶命 (Zettai zetsumei)
Japanese is more formal and implies a higher level of danger.
في مأزق (Fi ma'ziq)
The imagery is almost identical.
进退两难 (Jìn tuì liǎng nán)
Chinese focuses on the impossibility of movement in any direction.
진퇴양난 (Jin-toe-yang-nan)
Used in similar contexts of dilemmas.
Estar em maus lençóis
Portuguese focuses on the unpleasantness of the situation rather than the lack of options.
Spotted in the Real World
“Don Abbondio, vedendosi così alle strette...”
Don Abbondio is cornered by the 'bravi' who threaten him not to perform a marriage.
“Il governo alle strette sulla manovra economica.”
Article about the difficulty of passing the national budget.
“M'hai messo alle strette, Genny.”
A tense confrontation between two main characters.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners think it means being in a tight spot.
This only refers to physical size (e.g., a tight shirt).
Both use 'stretto'.
'In stretto giro' means 'in a short time' or 'very soon'.
자주 묻는 질문 (10)
It is neutral. You can use it with friends, but also in a business meeting or a newspaper article.
usage contextsYes, 'essere alle strette con il tempo' is very common for deadlines.
usage contexts'Essere nei guai' means you are in trouble (you did something wrong). 'Essere alle strette' means you are cornered or have no options.
comparisonsNo, that sounds like you are in a physical squeeze or a hug. Stick to the plural 'alle strette'.
grammar mechanicsYes, it is a standard Italian idiom recognized from Milan to Sicily.
cultural usageNo, for a dress you say 'il vestito è stretto'.
common mistakesOften, yes. If you use 'mettere alle strette', someone is definitely forcing you. If you use 'essere', it could just be the situation.
basic understandingYes, 'stare alla canna del gas' is a much more informal/slang way to say you are in a desperate financial spot.
practical tipsAlmost never. It describes a stressful or difficult situation.
usage contextsUse 'essere' as the auxiliary: 'Sono stato alle strette'.
grammar mechanics
