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in bocca al lupo

phrase, idiomColloquial

A Italian slang term. Browse all Italian slang.

What it means

  1. Good luck. The conventional reply is crepi il lupo ('may the wolf die') or simply crepi — replying grazie is considered to invite bad luck.

Literally: Into the wolf's mouth.

Examples with translations

  • In bocca al lupo per l'esame!

    Good luck with the exam!

  • —In bocca al lupo. —Crepi!

    'Good luck.' 'Thanks!'

    Note: The exchange is fixed. Answering 'grazie' marks you as a foreigner.

Where it comes from

The logic is the same as English 'break a leg': wishing good luck directly is thought to jinx it, so you invoke the danger instead. A minority argue the wolf's mouth is protective, as a she-wolf carries her cubs — in which case crepi il lupo is a mistake. Italians argue about this.