المعنى
To be shocked or surprised.
خلفية ثقافية
The concept of 'meraviglia' (wonder) was the primary goal of Baroque artists like Bernini. They designed churches and statues specifically to make viewers 'rimanere a bocca aperta.' Italians value emotional transparency. Being 'a bocca aperta' is seen as a sincere reaction, showing that you are truly moved by what someone is saying or showing you. In classic Neorealist films, directors often used non-professional actors to capture genuine 'bocca aperta' reactions to the hardships or wonders of post-war Italy. The phrase is often accompanied by a hand gesture where the palm is flat and moves down from the chin, or simply by freezing in place with wide eyes.
Use it for 'Wow'
Whenever you want to say 'Wow' in Italian, follow it up with 'Sono rimasto a bocca aperta.'
Check the Gender
If you are a woman, say 'Sono rimastA'. If you are a man, say 'Sono rimastO'.
المعنى
To be shocked or surprised.
Use it for 'Wow'
Whenever you want to say 'Wow' in Italian, follow it up with 'Sono rimasto a bocca aperta.'
Check the Gender
If you are a woman, say 'Sono rimastA'. If you are a man, say 'Sono rimastO'.
The Causative Form
Use 'lasciare' to sound more like a native when describing movies or books: 'Questo film lascia a bocca aperta.'
Facial Expression
Don't say this with a flat face! Raise your eyebrows to show you really mean it.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'rimanere' in the Passato Prossimo.
Quando abbiamo visto il prezzo dell'hotel, noi ________ a bocca aperta.
We need 'essere' (siamo) + the plural masculine past participle (rimasti).
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'You left me speechless'?
Scegli la frase corretta:
To cause surprise in someone else, use 'lasciare' with the auxiliary 'avere'.
Match the reaction to the situation.
Situazione: Hai appena scoperto che il tuo attore preferito vive nel tuo palazzo.
This is a shocking/surprising event. 'In bocca al lupo' is for luck, and 'Acqua in bocca' is for secrets.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Hai visto il nuovo quadro di Maria?' B: 'Sì, è bellissimo! ________.'
The painting (it) left me (mi ha lasciato) stunned.
Match the Italian idiom to its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are all correct pairings of surprise-related idioms.
🎉 النتيجة: /5
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Rimanere vs Lasciare
بنك التمارين
5 تمارينQuando abbiamo visto il prezzo dell'hotel, noi ________ a bocca aperta.
We need 'essere' (siamo) + the plural masculine past participle (rimasti).
Scegli la frase corretta:
To cause surprise in someone else, use 'lasciare' with the auxiliary 'avere'.
Situazione: Hai appena scoperto che il tuo attore preferito vive nel tuo palazzo.
This is a shocking/surprising event. 'In bocca al lupo' is for luck, and 'Acqua in bocca' is for secrets.
A: 'Hai visto il nuovo quadro di Maria?' B: 'Sì, è bellissimo! ________.'
The painting (it) left me (mi ha lasciato) stunned.
طابق كل عنصر على اليسار مع زوجه على اليمين:
These are all correct pairings of surprise-related idioms.
🎉 النتيجة: /5
الأسئلة الشائعة
12 أسئلةYes, it is neutral. You can be 'a bocca aperta' for a beautiful sunset or for a shockingly high bill at a restaurant.
The idiomatic form is 'a bocca aperta.' Using 'con la' is more literal and less common in idiomatic speech.
In this context, they are 100% interchangeable. 'Restare a bocca aperta' is just as common.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend. It's very safe.
The verb changes (Siamo rimasti), but 'a bocca aperta' stays singular. Don't say 'a bocche aperte'.
Extremely. You will hear it in movies, on TV, and in daily conversation every day.
Yes! 'Spalancata' means 'wide open.' It's a more emphatic version of the idiom.
It's the active version: 'to leave (someone) jaw-dropped.' Example: 'La tua bellezza mi lascia a bocca aperta.'
Only if the context is negative. By itself, it just means 'very surprised.'
No, that would be 'avere l'acquolina in bocca.'
Io sono rimasto/a, tu sei rimasto/a, lui è rimasto, lei è rimasta, noi siamo rimasti/e, voi siete rimasti/e, loro sono rimasti/e.
Not really, but you can just say 'Sono basito' for a similar (though slightly more formal) meaning.
عبارات ذات صلة
Restare di stucco
synonymTo be thunderstruck/stunned
Rimanere di sasso
synonymTo be petrified with shock
Lasciare di sasso
similarTo shock someone
Avere l'acquolina in bocca
contrastTo have one's mouth watering
Acqua in bocca!
contrastKeep it a secret!
Rimanere a bocca asciutta
contrastTo be left empty-handed
