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sballottare

to toss about

verb zbal-lot-TAH-reh Rare

Also means

to buffet; to knock around

Usage Note

Sballottare suggests repeated, uncontrolled tossing — a small boat sballottata by waves, or a person sballottato from city to city by circumstance. It carries a sense of passivity and lack of control, making it effective both literally and figuratively. It uses avere as the auxiliary.

Examples

"La tempesta sballottava la barca."

Natural Translation

The storm was tossing the boat about.

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