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bis

encore; repeat

noun bees Less Common
Arts & Culture Music

Origin: Latin bis (twice)

Also means

second helping (informal)

Usage Note

Bis is shouted by audiences demanding an encore at concerts or theatre — chiedere il bis (to call for an encore). It is invariable: the plural is also bis. Informally, fare il bis at the dinner table means 'to take a second helping.' As an adverb or prefix it still carries the Latin sense of 'twice' (cf. biscotto — twice-baked). It is masculine.

Examples

"Il pubblico ha urlato bis per dieci minuti."

Natural Translation

The audience shouted for an encore for ten minutes.

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