Have you been studying Italian for a while? If so, it’s time to step up your skills and venture into more advanced scenarios. In this guide, we have listed a great number of advanced phrases, structures, and idioms that will help you show competence and confidence in the most diverse of environments.

It is important to study advanced Italian phrases because it will allow you to fit right in wherever you are. For example, if you plan on attending an Italian university, knowing advanced phrases will help you write an essay or perform well in an oral exam. Or, you might need to submit your resume to apply for your dream job; advanced phrases will definitely help with that while also giving you more confidence when it’s time for your interview. And how about participating in business meetings? Do you have the necessary skills? In any of these situations, our guide to the most useful advanced Italian phrases will help you demonstrate your Italian proficiency.

So, let’s start right away: prendi due piccioni con una fava. Learn useful advanced Italian phrases while having fun with ItalianPod101! And if you want to know what that phrase means, just keep reading until the end, where you’ll find a fascinating chapter about Italian idioms.

Are you ready for some advanced Italian phrases?

Table of Contents

1. Advanced Italian Phrases for Academic Writing
2. Advanced Italian Phrases for Your Cover Letter
3. Advanced Italian Phrases for Business and Meetings
4. Advanced Italian Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
5. Conclusion

1. Advanced Italian Phrases for Academic Writing

Italian universities offer great opportunities for foreign students to study topics related to Italian culture and to take advanced economy or science courses. Although you can find classes in English, being enrolled in an Italian university—especially for advanced studies—means that you’ll need to know sufficient Italian to sustain complex conversations, hold interviews, and write structured and coherent text for assignments and essays.

Below, you’ll find several advanced Italian phrases you can use to structure your essay, organize your thoughts, prove your point, and present your opinion or thesis. 

Per prima cosa / La cosa più importante  “First of all” / “First and foremost”

Per prima cosa, cominciamo a definire i nostri obiettivi. “First of all, we start by defining our goals.”

In vista di / In considerazione di  “In view of” / “In consideration of”

In vista del prossimo esame, passerò più tempo in biblioteca. “In view of the upcoming exam, I will be spending more time in the library.”

Secondo quanto detto da X / In riferimento alle opinioni di X  “According to what X said”

Secondo quanto detto da Leonardo a proposito del volo, se lo provi una volta continuerai sempre a guardare il cielo. “According to what Leonardo said about flying, if you try it once, you will be forever looking at the sky.”

Inoltre / In aggiunta  “Furthermore” / “In addition”

In aggiunta a quanto già detto, possiamo affermare che questa scoperta è un’assoluta novità. “In addition to what has already been said, we can say that this discovery is an absolute novelty.”

A questo scopo / Con questa intenzione  “For this purpose” / “With this intention”

A questo scopo, è utile sfruttare tutte le conoscenze acquisite fin qui. “For this purpose, it is useful to exploit all the knowledge acquired so far.”

In altre parole / In breve  “In other words” / “In short”

In altre parole, l’autore ha voluto esprimere il suo dolore in questa poesia. “In other words, the author wanted to express his pain in this poem.”

Allo stesso modo / Ugualmente  “Similarly” / “Likewise”

Allo stesso modo, dobbiamo riconsiderare anche il nostro approccio. “Likewise, we must also reconsider our approach.”

Un altro fattore chiave da ricordare / Un aspetto ugualmente significante  “Another key factor to remember” / “An equally significant aspect”

Un altro fattore chiave da ricordare è che non tutti gli elementi fanno parte di un gruppo. “Another key factor to remember is that not all elements are part of a group.”

Al contrario / D’altro canto / In alternativa  “Conversely” / “On the other hand” / “Alternatively”

D’altro canto, non possiamo affermarlo con certezza. “On the other hand, we cannot say that with certainty.”

In confronto a / Rispetto a  “In comparison with” / “Compared to”

Rispetto al Medioevo, la nostra vita è estremamente sicura. “Compared to the Middle Ages, modern life is extremely safe.”

Nonostante questo / Ciò nonostante  “Despite this” / “Nevertheless”

Ciò nonostante, tutti gli indizi supportano la nostra teoria. “Nevertheless, all the clues support our theory.”

A prova di ciò / Per fare un esempio  “As proof of this” / “To give an example”

Per fare un esempio, il 1881 fu un anno controverso. “For example, 1881 was a controversial year.”

Questo spiega come / Se ne può dedurre che / Ne consegue che  “This explains how” / “It can be deduced that” / “It follows that”

Se ne può dedurre che la somma dei lati equivale al perimetro. “It can be deduced that the sum of the sides equals the perimeter.”

Si può notare che / La cosa più significativa  “It can be noted that” / “The most significant thing”

Si può notare che gli studi di genere si sono moltiplicati negli ultimi decenni. “It can be noted that gender studies have multiplied in recent decades.”

Tutto considerato  “All things considered”

Tutto considerato, questo corso mi è stato veramente utile. “All things considered, this course was really helpful to me.”

In conclusione / In ultima analisi / Volendo riassumere  “In conclusion” / “Ultimately” / “Wanting to summarize”

In ultima analisi, l’apprendimento di una lingua dipende da tanti fattori. “Ultimately, learning a language depends on many factors.”

To write a good essay, you first have to organize your thoughts.

➜ Remember that the correct use of connecting adverbs will help you to convey your point more convincingly. These and more you can find in our free vocabulary list on ItalianPod101.com!

2. Advanced Italian Phrases for Your Cover Letter

Writing the perfect cover letter is an art… 

First of all, it’s essential that your cover letter be personalized for each job you’re applying to. You will need to research every company you’re sending an application to so that you can say something in your letter that applies directly and only to them.

It’s also necessary that you use phrases and concepts that stand out. You want to be memorable, but at the same time, you don’t want the employer to think you’re trying too hard.

Here are some advanced action phrases that will help you get your dream job. You can also use them in your interviews to make sure you leave a great impression.

La contatto per sottoporre la mia candidatura. “I’m contacting you to submit my application.”

Sono sicuro/a di essere la persona adatta per questa posizione. “I am sure I am the right person for this position.”

Sono certo/a di possedere tutte le qualifiche indicate nell’annuncio di lavoro. “I am sure that I have all the qualifications indicated in the job advertisement.”

Possiedo una vasta esperienza nel campo di  ___. “I have extensive experience in the field of ___.”

La vostra offerta di lavoro ha particolarmente suscitato la mia attenzione. “Your job offer has particularly caught my attention.”

La mia formazione accademica in ___ mi ha permesso di acquisire ottime competenze in ___. “My academic training in ___ allowed me to acquire excellent skills in ___.”

Sono alla ricerca di nuove sfide. “I am looking for new challenges.”

Sarei felice di poterLa incontrare per discutere la mia candidatura. “I would be happy to meet you to discuss my application.”

Ho ottime capacità analitiche e una comprovata esperienza nella risoluzione di problemi. “I have excellent analytical skills and a proven track record in problem-solving.”

Writing the perfect resume is an art!

And finally, here are a few ways to end your letter:

Cordiali saluti.	“Yours sincerely.”
La saluto cordialmente.	“Cordial greetings.”
Le auguro una buona giornata.	“I wish you a good day.”
Resto in attesa di un cortese riscontro.	“I look forward to a kind reply.”
Grazie per la vostra cortese attenzione.	“Thanks for your kind attention.”

➜ If you need some more help to really make an impact, why not try our free vocabulary list Words and Phrases for Writing Your Resume on ItalianPod101.com?

3. Advanced Italian Phrases for Business and Meetings

It’s normal to be a little nervous before a business meeting. Sometimes, the stakes are high; this makes it important to be clear and to get everybody on board. This is why good preparation for a meeting starts with organizing what you want to say and how.

You can begin by clarifying what you’re trying to achieve and showing the meeting agenda. Doing a good job of preparation will boost your confidence and set you up for a successful meeting. But don’t forget that meetings can be fun and relaxed, so don’t be afraid to use informal or slang expressions.

To help you prepare, here’s a list of advanced Italian phrases to help you perfectly manage meetings and groups in any situation.

L’ordine del giorno  “Today’s agenda”

L’argomento principale dell’ordine del giorno è il rinnovo dell’impresa. “The main topic on today’s agenda is the renewal of the company.”

La scadenza  “The deadline”

Non possiamo posticipare in nessun modo la scadenza del progetto. “We cannot postpone the project deadline in any way.”

Avere tutto sotto controllo  “To have everything under control”

La cosa più importante è avere la situazione sotto controllo. “The most important thing is to have the situation under control.”

Prendere una decisione difficile  “To make a difficult decision”

In autunno, saremo costretti a prendere una decisione difficile. “In the fall, we will be forced to make a difficult decision.”

Soppesare i pro e i contro  “To weigh the pros and cons”

Nell’affrontare una situazione, bisogna sempre soppesare i pro e i contro. “In dealing with a situation, you must always weigh the pros and cons.”

Pensare in maniera strategica  “To think strategically”

Bravi! Avete dimostrato di pensare in maniera strategica. “Well done! You have demonstrated that you think strategically.”

Lo stato dell’arte  “The state of the art”

Il nostro prodotto rappresenta lo stato dell’arte in materia ambientale. “Our product represents the state of the art in environmental matters.”

Mettere le carte in tavola  “To put the cards on the table”

È opportuno mettere le carte in tavola: l’onestà prima di tutto. “It is appropriate to put the cards on the table: honesty first of all.”

Giocare secondo le regole  “To play by the rules”

In questa azienda, abbiamo sempre giocato secondo le regole. “At this company, we have always played by the rules.”

Mettere in piedi/in pista un progetto  “To set up a project”

Il progetto che vogliamo mettere in piedi, rappresenta il futuro della nostra società. “The project we want to set up represents the future of our company.”

Mantenere i nervi saldi  “To keep your nerve”

Nelle situazioni difficili, è fondamentale mantenere i nervi saldi. “In difficult situations, it is essential to keep your nerve.”

Dare il beneficio del dubbio  “To give the benefit of the doubt”

Vogliamo dare ai nostri concorrenti il beneficio del dubbio su questo punto. “We want to give our competitors the benefit of the doubt on this point.”

Business meetings don’t have to be stressful…

➜ If you want to get totally prepared for your business meetings, pick up more expressions from our free vocabulary list Phrases for Doing Business Successfully on ItalianPod101.com. You won’t regret it!

4. Advanced Italian Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage

To end this guide to advanced Italian phrases, we couldn’t omit the idiomatic expressions. These, along with sayings and proverbs, represent the backbone of communication in any language. But while they’re used by native speakers every day and comprise an essential part of Italian for advanced learners, you’ll have a hard time finding them in textbooks. 

In your everyday conversations with Italians, you’ll find that they tend to pop up all the time. Do your homework here, and surprise your Italian friends and colleagues by using just the right idiom or expression. 

Salvare capra e cavoli  “To save both the goat and the cabbage” Meaning: To keep everybody happy; To have one’s cake and eat it too

Con questa soluzione rischiosa, siamo riusciti a salvare capra e cavoli. “With this risky solution, we managed to keep everybody happy.”

Prendere due piccioni con una fava  “To kill two birds with one stone” Meaning: To obtain the best outcome with the least amount of effort

Brava! Così hai preso due piccioni con una fava. “Good job! This way, you killed two birds with one stone.”

Rompere il ghiaccio   “To break the ice” Meaning: To do something that removes the embarrassment during an initial meeting between people who don’t know each other

Per rompere il ghiaccio, vorrei iniziare questa riunione con un piccolo gioco. “To break the ice, I’d like to start this meeting with a little game.”

Braccia rubate all’agricoltura  “Labor force (lit. ‘arms’) stolen from agriculture” Meaning: A mockery towards someone who is not suitable to fill the role he occupies

Molti uomini politici sono incompetenti. Tutte braccia rubate all’agricoltura! “Many politicians are incompetent. All laborers stolen from agriculture!”

Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano.  “Who goes slow and steady wins.” Literally: Who goes slow, goes safe and goes far.

Non bisogna avere fretta, dopotutto chi va piano va sano va lontano! “You don’t need to hurry; after all, those who go slow and steady win!”

Restare a bocca asciutta   “To be left with nothing” Literally: To be left with a dry mouth

Hai voluto esagerare con la tua offerta, e adesso sei rimasto a bocca asciutta. “You wanted to overdo your offer, and now you are left with nothing.”

Trattare a pesci in faccia  “To treat someone very badly” Literally: To slap somebody on the face with a fish

Non accetto il loro comportamento. Mi hanno trattato a pesci in faccia. “I don’t accept their behavior. They treated me with utter disrespect.”

A colpo d’occhio  “At a glance”

A colpo d’occhio la situazione è abbastanza complicata. “At a glance, the situation is quite complicated.”

Un’arma a doppio taglio   “A double-edged sword” Meaning: Something that is both helpful and harmful to someone/something

La nostra strategia è stata parzialmente vincente: si è dimostrata un’arma a doppio taglio. “Our strategy was partially successful, but it proved to be a double-edged sword.”

Dare i numeri  “To go nuts” / “To say whatever” Literally: Throwing out numbers

Proprio non ti capisco… Stai cominciando a dare i numeri. “I just don’t understand you… You’re starting to go nuts.”

Andare a rotoli  “To go to pieces” / “To fall apart” Literally: To go into rolls

Non posso stare a guardare il mondo andare a rotoli. “I can’t sit back and watch the world fall apart.”

Mettere il bastone fra le ruote   “To hinder/impede/boycott/thwart somebody” Literally: To put a spoke in the wheels

Ogni volta che comincio un nuovo progetto, qualcuno mi mette i bastoni fra le ruote. “Every time I start a new project, someone hinders me.”

Fare la parte del leone  “Play the lion’s share” Meaning: Unfairly hoard everything (or almost everything)

In questo affare, i primi investitori hanno fatto la parte del leone. “In this deal, early investors got the lion’s share.”

Per prima cosa, bisogna rompere il ghiaccio. (“First of all, we need to break the ice.”)

➜ You can find more expressions on our list titled Essential Idioms That Will Make You Sound Like a Native Speaker. It’s available for free on ItalianPod101.com.

5. Conclusion

In this guide, you have learned many advanced Italian phrases that you’ll be able to use for cover letters, business meetings, and other social interactions. Did we forget any important structure or expression you’d like to learn more about? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!

Keep having fun with ItalianPod101 and our great variety of free resources designed to help you practice grammar and learn new words. Make sure you check our free vocabulary lists as well, where you can find useful words (along with their pronunciation) spanning a vast range of topics. 

Remember that you can also use our Premium PLUS service, MyTeacher, to get personal 1-on-1 coaching. Your own private teacher will help you practice with advanced phrases and more, give you assignments, provide personalized exercises, and record audio samples just for you.

Not sure where to start? We recommend creating your free lifetime account and checking out the Level 5 pathway for some advanced Italian lessons. 

Happy learning!