andare a male

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to go to bad”.

Verb

andàre a male (first-person singular present vàdo a male, first-person singular past historic andài a male, past participle andàto a male, first-person singular future andrò a male, first-person singular subjunctive vàda a male, second-person singular imperative vài a male or và' a male, auxiliary èssere)

1. (intransitive, also figurative) to go bad; to rot

   Synonyms: decomporsi, avariarsi; see also Thesaurus:marcire

   • 2013, John Steinbeck, translated by Sergio Claudio Perroni, Furore [The Grapes of Wrath], Bompiani, page 363:

     E le pere in scatola non vanno a male. Possono durare anni.

     And the canned pears do not spoil. They will last for years.

     (literally, “And the canned pears do not go bad. They can last for years.”)