prendere alla lontana

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to take distantly”.

Verb

prèndere alla lontana (first-person singular present prèndo alla lontana, first-person singular past historic prési alla lontana, past participle préso alla lontana, auxiliary avére)

1. (idiomatic) to say circuitously or long-windedly

   Synonyms: protrarsi, straparlare; see also Thesaurus:dilungarsi

   • 2020, Barack Obama, translated by Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, and Giuseppe Maugeri, Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:

     Un format, questo, in cui non ero mai stato particolarmente bravo: la mia tendenza a prendere le cose alla lontana e a dare risposte complicate mi danneggiava, soprattutto quando dovevo condividere il palco con sette professionisti smaliziati e avevo un minuto cronometrato per rispondere a ogni domanda.

     I had never been particularly good in these formats myself: My long windups and preference for complicated answers worked against me, particularly onstage with seven savvy pros and a single timed minute to answer a question.

     (literally, “A format, this one, in which I had never been particularly good: my tendency to say things long-windedly and to give complicated responses damaged me, especially when I had to share the stage with seven savvy professionals and I had one timed minute to answer each question.”)

Usage notes

• Typically used with the clitic la.