Con le pive nel sacco
With the bagpipes in the sack
This idiom means to return home in disappointment after an unsuccessful attempt at something. The expression comes from an ancient tradition where bagpipers would play in the streets during festivals and events. If an event was canceled or if they were not allowed to perform, they would put their bagpipes back in the sack and go home, hence the phrase “with the bagpipes in the sack.”
Esempi
- Pensava di vincere il concorso, ma è tornato a casa con le pive nel sacco. – He thought he would win the competition, but he went home disappointed.
- Dopo aver cercato lavoro per mesi, è tornato con le pive nel sacco. – After months of job hunting, he came back empty-handed.
- Ha provato a convincere il suo capo a dargli una promozione, ma è tornato con le pive nel sacco. – He tried to convince his boss to give him a promotion, but he returned disappointed.