essere in alto mare
Lemma: essere in alto mare
Translation: to be at sea; to be nowhere near completion; to be far from resolution; to be in the early stages (idiom)
Etymology: This Italian idiom literally means 'to be in high sea' or 'to be in deep water'. It originates from maritime imagery where being far from shore (in alto mare) means being in an uncertain situation with no land in sight. The metaphor evolved to describe situations where a solution or conclusion is still distant or uncertain, just as a ship in the open sea is far from reaching port.
Example Usage
Per quanto riguarda il nuovo progetto, siamo ancora in alto mare.
Regarding the new project, we're still nowhere near completion.
Le trattative sono in alto mare, ci vorrà ancora molto tempo.
The negotiations are far from resolution, it will take much more time.
Dopo tre mesi di lavoro, siamo ancora in alto mare con la ristrutturazione della casa.
After three months of work, we're still in the early stages with the house renovation.
Mnemonics
- Think of a ship in the middle of the ocean (alto mare) with no land in sight, just as a project with no end in sight.
- Visualize being 'high at sea' (alto mare) where you can't see the shore, representing how far you are from completion.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This idiom is commonly used in Italian business, politics, and everyday conversation to describe projects, negotiations, or plans that are still far from completion. It's a colorful way to express that something is still in its early stages or that progress is slow.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Essere in alto mare' is an idiom meaning to be far from completion, while 'essere al mare' literally means 'to be at the seaside' or 'to be at the beach'.
This word:
Con questo lavoro siamo ancora in alto mare.
We're still nowhere near completion with this work.
Confused word:
Questa settimana non posso venire, sono al mare in vacanza.
I can't come this week, I'm at the seaside on vacation.
Notes: The addition of 'alto' (high) completely changes the meaning from a literal location to a figurative state.
Mnemonic: 'Alto mare' (high sea) = far from shore = far from completion; 'al mare' = at the beach = literal location.