essere come il prezzemolo

/ˈɛs.se.re ˈko.me il pret.t͡se.ˈmɔ.lo/idiom
to be everywhere

Mio zio Mario è come il prezzemolo: si fa vivo a ogni festa di famiglia!

My uncle Mario is everywhere: he shows up at every family party!


What It Really Means
to be unavoidably present in many places or situations
Literal Meaning
to be like parsley
Literal Breakdown
essereto be+comelike+il prezzemolothe parsley
Mental Image
The mental image is of parsley, a common herb in Italian cuisine, appearing in almost every dish, symbolizing something that is unavoidably present everywhere.
When to Use
Imagine a friend who always shows up at every social event uninvited. You might say, 'Sei come il prezzemolo!' to express that they are everywhere.
Cultural Note
Parsley (prezzemolo) is a staple in Italian cooking, used in a wide variety of dishes. The idiom reflects the cultural familiarity with this herb and its ubiquity in Italian cuisine.
informal

to appear or be present in many places at once, often in a way that feels unavoidable or excessive

Quel ristorante è come il prezzemolo: lo trovi in ogni angolo della città!

That restaurant is everywhere: you can find it on every corner of the city!

Maria è come il prezzemolo: spunta sempre quando meno te l'aspetti.

Maria is everywhere: she always pops up when you least expect it.

Often used to describe someone or something that seems to be unavoidably present in many situations, sometimes in a slightly negative or annoying way.

Related Phrases

esserci come i funghiidiom
to appear suddenly and in large numbers, often after rain
esserci semprephrase
to always be there

Pro Tip

When to use

Use this idiom when someone or something seems to pop up in every situation, often unexpectedly. It can imply both annoyance and inevitability.

Usage Notes

This idiom plays on the idea that parsley (prezzemolo) is a common ingredient in many Italian dishes, so it feels like it's 'everywhere' in cooking. It is used in both positive and negative contexts, depending on the tone.

Word Breakdown

essere
to be
verb
+
come
like
preposition
+
il prezzemolo
the parsley
noun
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese