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espressione

expression, phrase

noun es-pres-SYOH-neh Less Common
Communication Language

Origin: From Latin expressio, from exprimere, 'to press out'.

Also means

look, facial expression

Usage Note

Espressione covers a linguistic expression or idiom (un'espressione idiomatica), a facial expression (l'espressione del viso), and artistic or musical expression (libertà di espressione = freedom of expression). Its range mirrors the English word closely, making it a reliable true cognate.

Examples

"Quella espressione non si usa nel parlato formale."

Natural Translation

That expression is not used in formal speech.

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