What does “Rimanere a bocca asciutta” mean?
Rimanere a bocca asciutta
Word for word
To be left with a dry mouth
What it really means
To come away with nothing, to miss out on what you were expecting. Used when someone loses their turn, the prize or the opportunity.
How we say it in English
To be left empty-handed — or left high and dry
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Create a free accountOther Italian idioms
Costare un occhio della testa
To cost an arm and a leg
Non avere peli sulla lingua
Not to mince your words
Avere la testa fra le nuvole
To have your head in the clouds
Fare orecchie da mercante
To turn a deaf ear
Ficcare il naso negli affari degli altri
To poke your nose into other people's business
In bocca al lupo
Break a leg — and, like "break a leg", you never answer with "thank you"