Meaning
old banger, rattletrap
- A dilapidated, unreliable old car or vehicle.
- A small, primitive two-wheeled cart or wheelbarrow.
In a sentence
Come fa a circolare ancora quella vecchia carretta?
How is that old rattletrap still on the road?
Non posso permettermi un'auto nuova, quindi guido questa carretta.
I can't afford a new car, so I drive this old banger.
È sempre lui a tirare la carretta per tutta la famiglia.
He is always the one shouldering the burden for the whole family.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| carretta | feminine · singular |
| carrette | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Informal: used disparagingly for beat-up old cars or boats.
- The expression 'tirare la carretta' means to work hard or shoulder a heavy burden.