too much gas

#1 07-Jun-2003, 11:34

I worked in Italy for a period and I learned car driving in Roma.
My driving school teacher was a giant Italian man in his fifties.

He sat beside me in the car while I was driving. Each time when
he wanted me to slow down, he would say in Italian, "piano, piano,
piano." When he wanted me to accelerate, he would say in English
"too much gas, too much gas, too much gas!"

Whether it was piano or too much gas, he would always use his
hands to make emphasis, as if Pavarotti was teaching me to drive.
So musical language, so unforgettable experience!

#2 07-Jun-2003, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymous

I worked in Italy for a period and I learned car driving in Roma.
My driving school teacher was a giant Italian man in his fifties.

He sat beside me in the car while I was driving. Each time when
he wanted me to slow down, he would say in Italian, "piano, piano,
piano." When he wanted me to accelerate, he would say in English
"too much gas, too much gas, too much gas!"

Whether it was piano or too much gas, he would always use his
hands to make emphasis, as if Pavarotti was teaching me to drive.
So musical language, so unforgettable experience!

It sounds a funny but a real life story! :)

It makes me automatically think of how colorful and important part of language in life no matter what tongue you use, at this time, it's so natural to say to himself: How beautiful the life is with some much beautiful melody of language inside! :)

Cherish life around you! :)

Lucy in China

**RonBee** · #3 10-Jun-2003, 05:46

The American expression for telling somebody to speed up would be: "Give it some gas." "Too much gas" implies that the driver is going too fast. The Italian instructor did, probably, by means of gestures and inflection make clear his true intentions.

8)

**Tdol** · #4 10-Jun-2003, 15:13

I thought 'piano' meant 'quiet'. ;-(

**RonBee** · #5 10-Jun-2003, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

I thought 'piano' meant 'quiet'. ;-(

In Italian:
piano
In English:
slowly

(From Dictionary.com translator)

8)

**Tdol** · #6 10-Jun-2003, 16:46

You live and learn.

#7 12-Jun-2003, 12:20

Is it easy to study Italian language?
It seems Italian has something in common with English as a language according to ' piano' is " slowly' :)

**Tdol** · #8 12-Jun-2003, 14:37

A lot of English vocab is similar because we got it from French.

#9 12-Jun-2003, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

A lot of English vocab is similar because we got it from French.

Hi,Tdol!

You have given me an implication that I should turn to learn French firstly if I want to study English well since most English is from French!
;) hehe....what do you think of this?