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in bocca al lupo

phrase, idiomColloquial

An Italian slang term. Browse all Italian slang.

What it means

  1. Good luck. The conventional reply is crepi il lupo ('may the wolf die') or simply crepi — replying grazie is considered to invite bad luck.

Literally: Into the wolf's mouth.

Examples with translations

  • In bocca al lupo per l'esame!

    Good luck with the exam!

  • —In bocca al lupo. —Crepi!

    'Good luck.' 'Thanks!'

    Note: The exchange is fixed. Answering 'grazie' marks you as a foreigner.

Where it comes from

The logic is the same as English 'break a leg': wishing good luck directly is thought to jinx it, so you invoke the danger instead. A minority argue the wolf's mouth is protective, as a she-wolf carries her cubs — in which case crepi il lupo is a mistake. Italians argue about this.