heypolyglot
Italian

mazzata

/matˈtsa.ta/noun · feminineC1
Extended vocabulary · Vocabulary rank 21,734

Meaning

blow, shock

  • a heavy blow struck with a club or stick
  • a sudden disaster, shock, or heavy financial loss

In a sentence

L'arrivo di quella bolletta imprevista è stato una vera mazzata.

The arrival of that unexpected utility bill was a real blow.

La sconfitta alle elezioni ha rappresentato una dura mazzata per il partito.

The election defeat represented a harsh blow for the party.

Quell'aumento improvviso dei costi è un'altra mazzata per le famiglie.

That sudden increase in costs is another heavy hit for families.

Word forms (2)
WordWord forms
mazzatafeminine · singular
mazzatefeminine · plural

Usage notes

  • Colloquial term.
  • Formed from 'mazza' (club/sledgehammer) + suffix '-ata'.
  • Very common figuratively for heavy taxes, unexpected expenses, or bad news.

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