crepapelle

bursting point

noun kreh-pah-PEL-leh Rare

Origin: From crepare (to burst) + pelle (skin): literally 'skin-busting'.

Usage Note

Crepapelle almost always appears in the fixed phrase ridere a crepapelle, meaning 'to laugh one's sides off' or 'to laugh until it hurts'. It is invariable and used only in this idiom in modern Italian. The literal image is of laughing so hard your skin would burst. It is an informal, vivid expression.

Examples

"Abbiamo riso a crepapelle tutta la sera."

Natural Translation

We laughed our sides off all evening.

Literal Translation

We-have laughed to skin-burst all the evening.

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