essere al verde

/ˈɛs.se.re al ˈver.de/
phrase★Intermediate— to be broke◆idiom
◆ What It Really Means
To be completely out of money, financially destitute.
Literal Meaning
To be at the green (color).
Literal Breakdown
essereto be+al verdeat the green
◇ Mental Image
The image of being 'green' like a plant without water, symbolizing a lack of resources or vitality.
◈ When to Use
A person might say 'Sono al verde' after paying unexpected bills and having no money left for the rest of the month.
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom reflects the Italian cultural emphasis on financial stability and the stress associated with being without money.
informal

To be completely out of money; to have no financial resources left.

Dopo aver pagato l'affitto, sono al verde fino alla fine del mese.

After paying the rent, I'm broke until the end of the month.

💡

This idiom is commonly used in informal contexts to describe a lack of money.

Related Phrases

essere in bollettaidiom
to be in financial trouble

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use this phrase in casual conversations with friends or family to describe a temporary lack of money.

📖Word Origin

The phrase comes from the idea of being 'green' (verde) like a plant without water, symbolizing a lack of resources.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is widely used in everyday Italian to describe financial hardship. It is informal and should be avoided in formal or professional contexts.

Word Breakdown

essere
to be
verb
+
al verde
literally 'at the green'
phrase
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese