Meaning
(at the) mercy of; sway
- power, arbitrary control, or custody (almost exclusively used in the locution 'in balìa di': at the mercy of)
In a sentence
La piccola barca era ormai in balìa delle onde e del vento.
The small boat was now at the mercy of the waves and the wind.
Non possiamo lasciare i cittadini in balìa di queste speculazioni economiche.
We cannot leave citizens at the mercy of this economic speculation.
Senza una guida esperta, il gruppo si è trovato in balìa della tempesta.
Without an experienced guide, the group found itself at the mercy of the storm.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| balia | feminine · singular |
| balìe | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Do not confuse with 'bàlia' (/ˈba.lja/, 'wet nurse'). In modern Italian, 'balìa' is virtually always encountered in the phrase 'in balìa di'.
- plural balìe