avere le mani bucate

/aˈveːre le ˈmani ˈbuːkate/◆idiom
to be a spendthrift

Non gli do mai dei soldi perché ha le mani bucate.

I never give him money because he’s a spendthrift.

◆ What It Really Means
to be unable to hold onto money due to reckless spending
Literal Meaning
to have holed hands
Literal Breakdown
avereto have+le manithe hands+bucatewith holes
◇ Mental Image
The mental picture is of money slipping through holes in one’s hands, like water through a sieve, symbolizing uncontrollable loss of money.
◈ When to Use
Imagine a friend who always borrows money but never repays it, or someone who spends their entire paycheck on non-essentials the day they receive it. This idiom would describe their behavior.
◉ Cultural Note
The phrase reflects Italian cultural attitudes toward thrift and financial responsibility, where wastefulness is often seen as a moral failing. It’s a common idiom in both casual and semi-formal contexts.
informal

to spend money recklessly or wastefully, often without considering the consequences

Marco ha le mani bucate: spende tutto lo stipendio in vestiti e non risparmia nulla.

Marco is a spendthrift: he spends his entire salary on clothes and doesn’t save anything.

Non chiedergli un prestito, ha le mani bucate e non ti restituirà mai i soldi.

Don’t ask him for a loan; he’s a spendthrift and will never pay you back.

Often used to describe someone who cannot hold onto money, regardless of their actual financial situation.

Related Phrases

avere le mani cuciteidiom
to be very thrifty or stingy
buttare i soldi dalla finestraidiom
to throw money out the window (equivalent to 'spendthrift')

Pro Tip

Avoiding confusion with literal meaning

Remember that 'avere le mani bucate' is always figurative. Even if someone literally has holes in their hands (e.g., due to an injury), the idiom would not apply—it’s purely about financial behavior.

Gold Rule

When to use this idiom

Use this idiom to describe someone who spends money carelessly, regardless of their income. It’s not about being poor but about being wasteful.

Word Origin

The phrase combines 'avere' (to have) with 'mani bucate' (holey hands), metaphorically suggesting that money slips through one's fingers like water through a sieve. The imagery of holes in hands evokes the idea of something precious (money) draining away uncontrollably.

Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in everyday speech to criticize someone’s financial habits. It implies a lack of self-control rather than poverty. The phrase is figurative and should not be taken literally.

Word Breakdown

avere
to have
verb
+
le mani
the hands
noun phrase
+
bucate
holed/pierced
adjective (past participle)
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese