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bacchettata

rap on the knuckles, smack with a rod

noun bahk-ket-TAH-tah Rare
People & Society Education

Also means

sharp rebuke

Usage Note

Bacchettata is a blow delivered with a bacchetta (a thin rod or cane). Historically it was a school punishment — prendere una bacchettata sulle dita means to get rapped on the knuckles by a teacher. Figuratively, dare una bacchettata means to give someone a sharp scolding or reprimand. The plural is regular: le bacchettate.

Examples

"La maestra gli ha dato una bacchettata sulle mani."

Natural Translation

The teacher gave him a rap on the hands.

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