Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this to describe a rigorous, detail-oriented investigation or a very thorough screening process.
- Means: To examine every single part of something to find specific details or errors.
- Used in: Legal investigations, financial audits, and academic peer reviews.
- Don't confuse: With a quick glance; this implies an exhaustive, slow process.
내 수준에 맞는 설명:
뜻
To check every detail very carefully.
문화적 배경
In Italy, legal proceedings are famously document-heavy. 'Passare al setaccio' is the standard term used by 'magistrati' (judges/prosecutors) when referring to the 'fase istruttoria' (investigative phase). The literal act of sifting is still a point of pride in Italian kitchens. Using a 'setaccio di seta' (silk sieve) is considered the only way to get the perfect texture for high-end pastries. Italian crime reporting (cronaca nera) has a specific lexicon. 'Passare al setaccio' is almost a cliché in these reports, used to give a sense of relentless police activity. The 'Accademia della Crusca' (the institution that regulates the Italian language) is named after 'crusca' (bran). Their symbol is a 'frullone' (a sifting machine), representing their work in 'sifting' the language to keep it pure.
Use the Passive
In formal writing, use the passive voice ('è stato passato al setaccio') to sound like a professional journalist or investigator.
Don't use 'con'
Remember: it's 'al setaccio', not 'con il setaccio'. Using 'con' makes you sound like you are literally holding a kitchen tool.
Use the Passive
In formal writing, use the passive voice ('è stato passato al setaccio') to sound like a professional journalist or investigator.
Don't use 'con'
Remember: it's 'al setaccio', not 'con il setaccio'. Using 'con' makes you sound like you are literally holding a kitchen tool.
The 'Crusca' Connection
If you want to impress Italians, mention that the phrase reminds you of the Accademia della Crusca's mission to sift the language.
셀프 테스트
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition and article.
Gli avvocati hanno passato i documenti ______ setaccio.
The fixed idiom is 'passare al setaccio'.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'passare al setaccio'?
Quale situazione è più adatta?
The phrase implies a meticulous, exhaustive search for detail.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the phrase.
A: 'Hai trovato l'errore nel bilancio?' B: 'Non ancora, ma lo _________ proprio ora.'
The context 'proprio ora' (right now) requires the present continuous (stare + gerundio).
Match the verb to the context.
Abbina il verbo: 1. Vagliare, 2. Spulciare, 3. Scandagliare
Vagliare is for proposals, spulciare for tedious lists, scandagliare for deep/psychological depths.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
5 연습 문제Gli avvocati hanno passato i documenti ______ setaccio.
The fixed idiom is 'passare al setaccio'.
Quale situazione è più adatta?
The phrase implies a meticulous, exhaustive search for detail.
A: 'Hai trovato l'errore nel bilancio?' B: 'Non ancora, ma lo _________ proprio ora.'
The context 'proprio ora' (right now) requires the present continuous (stare + gerundio).
Abbina il verbo: 1. Vagliare, 2. Spulciare, 3. Scandagliare
Vagliare is for proposals, spulciare for tedious lists, scandagliare for deep/psychological depths.
🎉 점수: /5
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Both are used, but 'al setaccio' (with the article) is more common and sounds more natural in modern Italian.
Only if you are talking about their history, records, or belongings. You can't 'sift' a physical person.
A bit. If you're looking for your keys, just say 'Ho cercato dappertutto'. Use this for serious searches.
'Vagliare' is more intellectual (sifting ideas), while 'passare al setaccio' can be physical or intellectual.
No, it describes the *process*. You can pass everything al setaccio and still find nothing.
Yes! It shows you are 'meticoloso' (meticulous) and 'attento ai dettagli' (attentive to details).
Yes, 'setacciare' is the verb form. 'Hanno setacciato la zona' is synonymous with 'Hanno passato la zona al setaccio'.
The best equivalent is 'to go through with a fine-tooth comb'.
Rarely, but a coach might 'passare al setaccio' the video of a game to find tactical errors.
Not inherently, but if someone is passing *your* life al setaccio, it usually means they are looking for trouble!
관련 표현
Vagliare
synonymTo sift or examine critically.
Passare a tappeto
similarTo search an area thoroughly (carpet search).
Spulciare
similarTo go through something looking for tiny details/errors.
Mettere sotto la lente d'ingrandimento
similarTo put under the magnifying glass.
어디서 쓸까?
Police Investigation
Commissario: Avete trovato l'arma del delitto?
Agente: Non ancora, signore. Stiamo passando al setaccio tutto il giardino.
Job Recruitment
HR Manager: Abbiamo troppi candidati per questo posto.
Recruiter: Dobbiamo passare al setaccio i CV e scartare chi non ha esperienza.
Academic Research
Studente: Non trovo riferimenti a questo evento nei libri di storia.
Professore: Deve passare al setaccio gli archivi vaticani, troverà sicuramente qualcosa.
Financial Audit
Socio: Perché i conti non tornano?
Contabile: Passerò al setaccio ogni fattura dell'ultimo mese per capire l'errore.
Moving House
Moglie: Hai visto il mio passaporto?
Marito: Ho passato al setaccio tutti gli scatoloni, ma non c'è.
Dating/Social Media
Amica A: Com'è il tuo nuovo ragazzo?
Amica B: Le mie sorelle hanno già passato al setaccio il suo profilo Instagram!
암기하기
기억법
Think of a 'Setaccio' (Sieve) as a 'Search-io'. You use it to search for the smallest grains of truth.
시각적 연상
Imagine a detective in a kitchen apron, holding a giant flour sieve over a pile of documents. As he shakes the sieve, only the tiny, important clues fall through into his bowl.
Rhyme
Se il dettaglio vuoi trovare, al setaccio devi passare.
Story
A baker lost his wedding ring in a 50kg bag of flour. He didn't just look; he spent the whole night passing every gram of flour through his finest sieve (setaccio). By morning, he found the ring. Now, whenever he needs to find something hidden in a lot of data, he says he's 'passing it through the sieve'.
In Other Languages
English uses 'fine-tooth comb', which is a similar metaphor of filtration. Spanish uses 'pasar por el tamiz', which is almost identical.
Word Web
챌린지
Find a long Italian news article today. Spend 5 minutes 'passing it through the sieve' (passandolo al setaccio) to find every instance of a specific word or grammar point.
Review this phrase in 1 day, then 3 days, then 1 week. Focus on the preposition 'al'—it's the part most learners forget.
발음
Double 's' is long and sharp.
The 'cc' is a 'ch' sound like in 'church', but held longer.
격식 수준 스펙트럼
È imperativo passare al setaccio la documentazione fornita. (Work environment)
Dobbiamo passare al setaccio questi documenti. (Work environment)
Diamo una passata al setaccio a queste carte. (Work environment)
Spulciamoci per bene 'sti fogli. (Work environment)
Derived from the Latin 'saetacium', which comes from 'saeta' (bristle/horsehair), referring to the material used for the mesh of the sieve.
재미있는 사실
The 'Accademia della Crusca', the world's oldest linguistic academy, uses the sieve as its primary symbol to show they 'sift' the language.
문화 노트
In Italy, legal proceedings are famously document-heavy. 'Passare al setaccio' is the standard term used by 'magistrati' (judges/prosecutors) when referring to the 'fase istruttoria' (investigative phase).
“Il magistrato ha ordinato di passare al setaccio gli archivi della banca.”
The literal act of sifting is still a point of pride in Italian kitchens. Using a 'setaccio di seta' (silk sieve) is considered the only way to get the perfect texture for high-end pastries.
“Per una crema perfetta, devi passarla al setaccio due volte.”
Italian crime reporting (cronaca nera) has a specific lexicon. 'Passare al setaccio' is almost a cliché in these reports, used to give a sense of relentless police activity.
“I carabinieri stanno passando al setaccio le telecamere di sorveglianza.”
The 'Accademia della Crusca' (the institution that regulates the Italian language) is named after 'crusca' (bran). Their symbol is a 'frullone' (a sifting machine), representing their work in 'sifting' the language to keep it pure.
“La Crusca passa al setaccio ogni nuovo neologismo.”
대화 시작하기
Hai mai dovuto passare al setaccio un documento molto lungo per lavoro?
Se perdessi un anello in spiaggia, come passeresti al setaccio la sabbia?
Pensi che sia giusto che le aziende passino al setaccio i social media dei dipendenti?
자주 하는 실수
Passare con il setaccio
Passare al setaccio
L1 Interference
Passare il setaccio
Passare al setaccio
L1 Interference
Passare al setaccio una persona
Passare al setaccio la vita di una persona
L1 Interference
Guardare al setaccio
Passare al setaccio
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Pasar por el tamiz
Spanish uses the preposition 'por' (through) while Italian uses 'al' (to the).
Passer au peigne fin
The tool changes from a sieve to a comb.
Auf Herz und Nieren prüfen
German focuses on the 'health' or 'integrity' of the object, while Italian focuses on 'filtering' details.
しらみつぶしに探す (Shirami-tsubushi ni sagasu)
The Japanese metaphor is much more visceral and 'manual' than the Italian one.
تمحيص (Tamhis)
It is a single, formal verb rather than a culinary metaphor.
层层筛选 (Céngcéng shāixuǎn)
It emphasizes the 'layers' of the process more than the Italian version.
샅샅이 뒤지다 (Satsati dwijida)
It lacks the specific 'filtration' metaphor of the sieve.
Passar a pente fino
The imagery is grooming-based rather than kitchen-based.
Spotted in the Real World
“Dobbiamo passare al setaccio ogni singola casa di Vigata.”
The Inspector is ordering a massive search for a missing witness.
“La Guardia di Finanza passa al setaccio i conti dei politici.”
An article about a new anti-corruption investigation.
“Guglielmo passò al setaccio la biblioteca con la sua lente.”
William of Baskerville is searching for a hidden manuscript.
혼동하기 쉬운
Both start with 'Passare'.
Passare la mano means to give up or pass your turn (like in cards).
Both are used in investigations.
Passare al setaccio is the *action* of searching; fare un buco nell'acqua is the *result* (failing to find anything).
자주 묻는 질문 (10)
Both are used, but 'al setaccio' (with the article) is more common and sounds more natural in modern Italian.
grammar mechanicsOnly if you are talking about their history, records, or belongings. You can't 'sift' a physical person.
usage contextsA bit. If you're looking for your keys, just say 'Ho cercato dappertutto'. Use this for serious searches.
practical tips'Vagliare' is more intellectual (sifting ideas), while 'passare al setaccio' can be physical or intellectual.
comparisonsNo, it describes the *process*. You can pass everything al setaccio and still find nothing.
basic understandingYes! It shows you are 'meticoloso' (meticulous) and 'attento ai dettagli' (attentive to details).
practical tipsYes, 'setacciare' is the verb form. 'Hanno setacciato la zona' is synonymous with 'Hanno passato la zona al setaccio'.
grammar mechanicsThe best equivalent is 'to go through with a fine-tooth comb'.
comparisonsRarely, but a coach might 'passare al setaccio' the video of a game to find tactical errors.
usage contextsNot inherently, but if someone is passing *your* life al setaccio, it usually means they are looking for trouble!
cultural usage
