spalla

sf ['spalla]

1) Anat, Geog, Alpinismo shoulder

mi fa male una spalla — one of my shoulders hurts

questa giacca mi sta grande di spalle — this jacket is too big across the shoulders

avere le spalle curve — to have round shoulders, be round-shouldered

avere le spalle larghe (anche) fig — to have broad shoulders

portare qn/qc in o a spalle — to carry sb/sth on one's shoulders

alzare le spalle — to shrug one's shoulders

avere la famiglia sulle spalle — to have a family to support

vivere alle spalle di qn — to live off sb, live at sb's expense

2)

(schiena) spalle sfpl — back

di spalle — from behind

seduto alle mie spalle — sitting behind me

voltare le spalle a qn/qc fig — to turn one's back on sb/sth

mi ha voltato le spalle proprio quando avevo bisogno di lui — he turned his back on me just when I needed him

ridere alle spalle di qn fig — to laugh behind sb's back

prendere/colpire qn alle spalle — to take/hit sb from behind

mettere qn con le spalle al muro fig — to get sb with his (o her) back to the wall

3) Teatro stooge

fare da spalla a qn — to act as sb's stooge