sotto sotto

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “below below”.

Prepositional phrase

sotto sotto

1. deep down

   Synonym: in fondo

   • 2013, John Steinbeck, translated by Sergio Claudio Perroni, Furore [The Grapes of Wrath], Bompiani, page 367:

     Pa' non ha detto niente, ma sotto sotto è fuori dalla grazia di Dio. Me la vuole fare pagare.

     Pa, he didn' say nothing but he's mad now. He'll show me now.

     (literally, “Pa' did not say anything, but deep down he's furious. But he wants to make me pay for it.”)

2. inwardly

   Synonyms: nell'intimo, intimamente, dentro di sé

   sotto sotto ero felicissimo ― I was inwardly very happy

3. in secret, on the quiet

   Synonyms: nascostamente, di nascosto

   sotto sotto complottava per uccidermi

   he was secretly plotting to kill me