Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
appendere al chiodo
English translation:
throw caution to the wind
Added to glossary by
Christina Townsend
Jun 8, 2006 11:30
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Italian term
Italy
appendere al chiodo
Italian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
mai appendere al chiodo la prudenza
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
10 mins
Christina Townsend
Native in English
Works in field
Professional, fast and reliable!
Native in: English 
Works in: Italian to English, Spanish to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
19
Selected
throw caution to the wind
If it's appendere al chiodo in the sense of "abandoning" something then this is how I'd render it!
Chris
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Note added at 11 mins (2006-06-08 11:42:26 GMT)
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sorry, didn't finish the explanation: I'd turn your phrase around and say something like "never throw caution to the wind"
Chris
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Note added at 11 mins (2006-06-08 11:42:26 GMT)
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sorry, didn't finish the explanation: I'd turn your phrase around and say something like "never throw caution to the wind"
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
7 mins
nota
significa "non smettere mai di essere prudenti"
never stop to be prudent/cautious
1 (= accorto/cauto) careful, cautious, chary, wary, prudent,
avere prudenza to *be prudent/cautious;
never stop to be prudent/cautious
1 (= accorto/cauto) careful, cautious, chary, wary, prudent,
avere prudenza to *be prudent/cautious;
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
WendellR
: Yes; the literal meaning is that, but "never stop being cautious" isn't quite idiomatic.
12 mins
|
11 mins
(never) give up (caution) / you can't be too careful
something along these lines
18 mins
Italian term (edited):
mai appendere al chiodo la prudenza
You can never be too careful; don't throw caution to the wind; look before your leap
Someone will surely think of the precise saying in English the moment I've posted this, but nothing 100% on target comes to my mind. The above are in the ballpark, even though they don't seem quite like home runs!
19 mins
abandon. see note
In answer to your question appendere al chiodo could be translated as abandon.
To translate the whole phrase I'd say:
Be prudent!
Be careful/Take care!
Act with caution
etc...
To translate the whole phrase I'd say:
Be prudent!
Be careful/Take care!
Act with caution
etc...
1 day 1 hr
Antonio Caselli
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
Italy
Translator by heart
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, German to Italian, Italian to English
never leave caution behind
Maybe another option, even though "never throw caution to the wind" does sound good and is certainly more idiomatic.
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