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mosca cocchiera

English translation: get worked up for no reason/purpose

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:mosca cocchiera
English translation:get worked up for no reason/purpose
Entered by: Daniel Gold

15:11 Jun 16, 2008
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Journalism
Italian term or phrase: mosca cocchiera
Here's the sentence, taken from an article in the Corriere della Sera:

Il ritorno in Italia, nel 1982, segna l'inizio di una fase di studi: «Andai a lavorare all'Istituto Gramsci: qui, con l'appoggio di Adriano Guerra, approfondii le mie ricerche fino a preparare una tesi di laurea sulla rivoluzione ungherese che smentiva pienamente l'interpretazione ufficiale del Pci. Ma capivo che, pubblicandola da solo, avrei fatto la figura della mosca cocchiera, senza ottenere effetti politici. Accolsi così il suggerimento di Giancarlo Pajetta, che mi disse di contattare un senatore comunista di Torino, Lorenzo Gianotti, il quale stava lavorando a sua volta sull'insurrezione di Budapest».

What does "mosca cocchiera" mean? Never heard this expression before.

Thanks.
Daniel Gold
Israel
Local time: 20:16
get worked up for no reason/purpose
Explanation:
see
metafore animali to be left empty-handed. essere una mosca cocchiera. agitarsi senza produrre risultati. move without results. saltare la mosca al naso. irritarsi ...
locuta.com/anim_meta.html - 118k -


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Note added at 7 mins (2008-06-16 15:18:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

another take
Modi di dire della lingua italiana fare di una mosca un elefante, tendere a drammatizzare ogni piccolezza. far saltare la mosca al naso, irritare, esasperare. fare la mosca cocchiera ...
www.lucadia.it/Modi di dire/a proposito di animali.htm - 64k -

so this would mean "To pretend to have powers/abilities you don't"
Selected response from:

Shera Lyn Parpia
Italy
Local time: 19:16
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4getting above myself
Tricia Stuart
3get worked up for no reason/purpose
Shera Lyn Parpia


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
get worked up for no reason/purpose


Explanation:
see
metafore animali to be left empty-handed. essere una mosca cocchiera. agitarsi senza produrre risultati. move without results. saltare la mosca al naso. irritarsi ...
locuta.com/anim_meta.html - 118k -


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2008-06-16 15:18:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

another take
Modi di dire della lingua italiana fare di una mosca un elefante, tendere a drammatizzare ogni piccolezza. far saltare la mosca al naso, irritare, esasperare. fare la mosca cocchiera ...
www.lucadia.it/Modi di dire/a proposito di animali.htm - 64k -

so this would mean "To pretend to have powers/abilities you don't"

Shera Lyn Parpia
Italy
Local time: 19:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
getting above myself


Explanation:
di chi si assume, non richiesto, compiti e risponsabilita' di direzione

am thinking of alternatives too. will get back to you

Tricia Stuart
Italy
Local time: 19:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
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