Looking up...
A way to wish someone success or good fortune, especially before a challenging task.
Prima del concerto, gli amici gli hanno detto: “In bocca al lupo a te!”.
Before the concert, his friends said to him, “Good luck to you!”.
Often answered with “crepi il lupo”.
Originates from theatrical tradition where wishing “good luck” was considered bad luck; the phrase invokes the image of a wolf’s mouth, a dangerous place, implying a challenge to be overcome.
When someone says this, the customary reply is “crepi il lupo”. It is more common than the literal “good luck”.