restare di sasso
Lemma: restare di sasso
Translation: to be stunned; to be shocked; to be dumbfounded; to be petrified with surprise (idiom)
Etymology: This Italian idiom literally means 'to remain of stone.' It combines 'restare' (to remain, to stay) with 'sasso' (stone). The expression evokes the image of someone being so shocked or surprised that they freeze like a statue, unable to move or speak. The metaphor of turning to stone when faced with something shocking has parallels in many cultures, including the Greek myth of Medusa, whose gaze turned people to stone.
Example Usage
Quando ho visto il prezzo, sono restato di sasso.
When I saw the price, I was stunned.
Maria è restata di sasso quando ha scoperto di aver vinto alla lotteria.
Maria was dumbfounded when she discovered she had won the lottery.
Resterai di sasso quando saprai la verità.
You'll be shocked when you know the truth.
Mnemonics
- Think of someone turning into a statue (sasso = stone) when shocked
- Imagine being so surprised you're 'stone-still' like a statue
- Connect it to the English phrase 'stone-faced' but with the meaning of shock rather than lack of emotion
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This expression is commonly used in everyday Italian conversation to describe extreme surprise. It's a colorful idiom that Italians use frequently when recounting shocking events or unexpected news.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: Both idioms express being stunned, but 'restare di stucco' (literally 'to remain of plaster') has a slightly less intense connotation than 'restare di sasso' (stone being harder than plaster).
This word:
Sono restato di sasso quando ho visto l'incidente.
I was completely stunned when I saw the accident.
Confused word:
Sono restato di stucco quando mi ha raccontato la storia.
I was quite surprised when he told me the story.
Notes: Both expressions are common in Italian, but 'restare di sasso' often implies a more profound shock.
Mnemonic: Sasso (stone) is harder than stucco (plaster), so 'restare di sasso' implies a more intense shock.