spalancare

to fling open

verb spah-lahn-KAH-reh Rare

Also means

to open wide

Usage Note

Spalancare is specifically used for opening something very wide — eyes, a mouth, a door — with force or suddenness. 'Spalancare gli occhi' (to open one's eyes wide) expresses shock or astonishment. It takes avere as auxiliary.

Examples

"Ha spalancato la porta di colpo."

Natural Translation

She flung the door open suddenly.

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