mettere fuori combattimento
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Italian
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Literally, “to put out of battle”.
Verb
[edit]méttere fuori combattimento (first-person singular present métto fuori combattimento, first-person singular past historic mìsi fuori combattimento, past participle mésso fuori combattimento, auxiliary avére) (transitive)
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see mettere, fuori combattimento.
- 1990, Ernest Hemingway, translated by Ettore Capriolo, Fiesta [The Sun Also Rises], Mondadori:
- Traeva insomma una certa gioia intima dalla consapevolezza di poter mettere fuori combattimento chiunque avesse fatto lo spocchioso con lui, ma, essendo un ragazzo molto timido e assolutamente perbene, non si batté mai se non in palestra.
- There was a certain inner comfort in knowing he could knock down anybody who was snooty to him, although, being very shy and a thoroughly nice boy, he never fought except in the gym.
- (literally, “In sum, he drew a certain intimate joy from the knowledge that he could knock out anyone who had been snooty with him, but, being a very shy and absolutely respectable boy, he never fought if not in the gym.”)
- to silence (someone) in a discussion; to shut up
- to exclude (someone) from a community, agreement, etc.; to ostracize; to estrange