B2 Collocation Neutral

fare un'ottima impressione

to make a great impression

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to describe when someone creates a very positive and lasting impact on others during an initial meeting.

  • Means: To leave a very positive, lasting impact on someone you just met.
  • Used in: Job interviews, first dates, or meeting a partner's parents for the first time.
  • Don't confuse: 'Fare una bella figura', which is broader and can mean just looking good.
Professional attire + confident smile + polite manners = fare un'ottima impressione

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means you look good to other people when you meet them for the first time. You use it when you want to say you did a good job at a meeting.
When you meet new people, you want them to like you. In Italian, we say 'fare un'ottima impressione'. It is very common in interviews or when you meet a friend's family. It means you were polite and smart.
This is a standard collocation used to describe a successful social encounter. It implies that your behavior or appearance was well-received by others. It is often used in the past tense to describe how a meeting went, especially in professional or formal settings.
This phrase is a cornerstone of Italian social discourse, reflecting the cultural importance of 'bella figura'. It denotes a successful projection of one's persona, resulting in a favorable judgment by an observer. It is frequently employed in high-stakes contexts such as professional networking or romantic introductions, where the initial perception is critical to future success.
The phrase functions as a performative social marker. It encapsulates the intersection of individual agency and social validation. By stating one has 'fatto un'ottima impressione', the speaker validates their own social competence, suggesting that their communicative strategies were effectively aligned with the expectations of the interlocutor, thereby securing a positive reception.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, this collocation serves as a mechanism for managing social capital. It is an idiomatic expression that transcends simple description, acting as a narrative device to establish one's status within a specific social hierarchy. The phrase is deeply embedded in the Italian ethos of self-presentation, where the 'impression' is not merely an ephemeral reaction but a strategic outcome of deliberate social performance.

Meaning

To be viewed positively by others.

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Cultural Background

The concept of 'bella figura' is paramount. Making a good impression is a social duty. First impressions are heavily tied to bowing and formal language (keigo). First impressions are often tied to confidence and a firm handshake. Punctuality is the primary way to make a good impression.

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Use 'su'

Always use 'su' when you want to say who you impressed. E.g., 'su di lui'.

Meaning

To be viewed positively by others.

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Use 'su'

Always use 'su' when you want to say who you impressed. E.g., 'su di lui'.

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

Spero di ____ un'ottima impressione al colloquio.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fare

After 'di', we use the infinitive 'fare'.

🎉 Score: /1

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

Yes, just change 'ottima' to 'pessima'.

Related Phrases

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Fare bella figura

similar

To look good/act appropriately

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Fare colpo

similar

To impress/seduce

Where to Use It

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Job Interview

Interviewer: Come si è trovato?

Candidate: Molto bene, spero di aver fatto un'ottima impressione.

formal
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First Date

Friend: Com'è andata?

You: Credo di aver fatto un'ottima impressione!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Stamp' (Impressione) that is 'Excellent' (Ottima). You are stamping your excellence onto someone's brain!

Visual Association

Imagine walking into a room and leaving a glowing, golden footprint on the floor that everyone looks at and smiles.

Rhyme

To make a good impression, use your best expression.

Story

Marco had an interview. He wore a suit. He smiled. He spoke clearly. At the end, he knew he had made an excellent impression.

Word Web

colloquiosuccessoincontrogiudizioimmagineprofessionale

Challenge

Describe a time you felt proud of yourself in 5 sentences using this phrase.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

causar una buena impresión

Italian prefers 'fare' (to do/make) while Spanish often uses 'causar' (to cause).

French high

faire bonne impression

French doesn't usually use the article 'une' in this specific collocation as often as Italian.

German high

einen guten Eindruck machen

German grammar requires the accusative case for 'Eindruck'.

Japanese moderate

良い印象を与える (Yoi inshō o ataeru)

The verb 'ataeru' (to give) is used instead of 'suru' (to do).

Arabic moderate

ترك انطباعاً جيداً (Taraka intiba'an jayyidan)

The focus is on the 'leaving' of the mark rather than the 'making'.

Chinese moderate

给人留下好印象 (Gěi rén liúxià hǎo yìnxiàng)

It explicitly includes the person being impressed in the structure.

Korean moderate

좋은 인상을 남기다 (Joeun insang-eul namgida)

The verb 'namgida' (to leave behind) is the standard way to express this.

Portuguese high

causar uma boa impressão

Portuguese speakers often use 'causar' where Italians use 'fare'.

Easily Confused

fare un'ottima impressione vs Fare una bella figura

Learners think it means 'to make a good impression'.

It means 'to look good' or 'to behave well' in a general sense.

FAQ (1)

Yes, just change 'ottima' to 'pessima'.

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