Meaning
doormat
- A small mat placed outside an entrance for wiping shoes
- (figurative) A submissive, weak-willed person who lets others walk all over them
In a sentence
Pulisci bene le scarpe sullo zerbino prima di entrare in casa.
Wipe your shoes well on the doormat before entering the house.
Non fare lo zerbino, devi farti rispettare dai colleghi!
Don't be a doormat; you have to demand respect from your colleagues!
Abbiamo comprato un nuovo zerbino colorato per l'ingresso dell'ufficio.
We bought a new colorful doormat for the office entrance.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| zerbino | masculine · singular |
| zerbini | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- In figurative usage, calling someone a 'zerbino' implies they are completely spineless in a relationship.
- Takes the article 'lo' or 'uno' because it begins with 'z' ('lo zerbino').