cavarsela

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Italian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kaˈvar.se.la/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -arsela
  • Hyphenation: ca‧vàr‧se‧la

Verb

cavàrsela (pronominal, first-person singular present me la càvo, first-person singular past historic me la cavài, past participle cavàto)

  1. to get out (of trouble, danger, etc.)
    È stato un brutto incontro, ma menomale che lui se l'è cavato solo con alcuni contusioni.
    It was an ugly encounter, but thank goodness that he got out of it with just a few bruises.
  2. to make the best of something
    Non era una prestazione brilliante, ma se l'è cavata.
    It wasn't such a brilliant performance, but he made the best of it.
  3. to be good at
    A scacchi non me la cavo troppo bene.
    I'm not so good at chess.
  4. to manage (to do something)
    Synonyms: farcela, riuscire
    Dobbiamo cercare di cavarsela da soli.
    We should try to manage ourselves.
    Speriamo che me la cavo.
    Let's hope I make it.
    • 1947, Primo Levi, “Storia di dieci giorni”, in Se questo è un uomo [If This Is a Man], Torino: Einaudi, published 1987, →ISBN, page 214:
      Non era il caso di svelare un segreto di fabbricazione; sentii me stesso rispondere con le parole che avevo spesso udite dai vecchi del campo, e che contengono il loro vanto preferito: di essere « buoni prigionieri », gente addatta, che se la sa sempre cavare; – Ich verstehe verschiedene Sachen [] – (Me ne intendo di varie cose [] )
      It was not the time to unveil a secret of fabrication; I felt myself respond with the words that had often been heard by the elderly in the camp, and that contain their proudest boast: that of being "good prisoners", suitable people, that always knows how to manage; - Ich verstehe verschiedene Sachen - (I understand various things about it )
    • 2013, “Mi Scusi”, in Blixa Bargeld (lyrics), Still Smiling, performed by Teho Teardo and Blixa Bargeld:
      Mi scusi come parlo / Il mio Italiano non ha fatto molta strada / Me la cavo un po' così
      Forgive me for how I speak / My Italian has not fully made its way / I manage a little like this
  5. to carry off or get away with or get off
    Synonym: farla franca
    Alla fine me la sono cavata con poco danno.
    In the end, I got away with a little damage.
    cavarsela a buon mercatoto get away cheap

Conjugation