Thanks to Vieri Wiechmann for sending us some of his favorite Florentinisms.
Cantonata
Street corner. However, the idiomatic expression ‘prendere una cantonata’ means to make a mistake.
Example: L’ha preso una cantonata di nulla! (He really messed that up good!)
Sèmelle
A specific type of roll that used to be very common in Florence; you can still find sèmelle in some bakeries. The idiomatic expression ‘mangiare pane e sèmelle’ means to be so broke that you can’t afford anything to eat except bread and rolls.
Stiacciata/schiacciata
Most people know that schiacciata is Florence’s brand of focaccia, but to ‘levare i’ fumo alle stiacciate’ (literally to take the steam off the schiacciata) means to be furbo (sly or cunning).
Example: Io alla tua età levavo i’ fumo alle stiacciate! (At your age I was slick as anything!)
