saltare in aria

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to jump in air”.

Verb

saltàre in aria (first-person singular present sàlto in aria, first-person singular past historic saltài in aria, past participle saltàto in aria, auxiliary èssere) (intransitive)

1. to blow up; to explode

   Synonym: esplodere

   • 2019, George Orwell, translated by Nicola Gardini, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mondadori:

     Potevi ribellarti solo disobbedendo in segreto o, tutt'al più, con atti isolati di violenza, uccidendo qualcuno o facendo saltare in aria qualcosa.

     You could only rebel against it by secret disobedience or, at most, by isolated acts of violence such as killing somebody or blowing something up.

     (literally, “You could rebel only by disobeying in secret or, at most, with isolated acts of violence, by killing someone or making something blow up.”)

2. (by extension) to be eliminated or destroyed; to end badly