chiodo

nail

noun KYOH-doh Rare

Origin: From Latin clavus (nail).

Also means

obsession; fixation

Usage Note

Chiodo means a metal nail (piantare un chiodo, to drive a nail). Figuratively avere un chiodo fisso means to have a fixation or an idea one cannot shake. The idiom chiodo scaccia chiodo ('one nail drives out another') is the Italian equivalent of 'the best cure for heartbreak is a new love'. The plural chiodi is regular.

Examples

"Ha piantato un chiodo nel muro per appendere il quadro."

Natural Translation

He drove a nail into the wall to hang the picture.

Literal Translation

He-has planted a nail in-the wall to hang the picture.

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