sulla difensiva

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Italian

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Literally, on the defensive. Compare French sur la défensive.

Prepositional phrase

[edit]

sulla difensiva

  1. (sports, also figurative) on the defensive
    • 2012, John Green, translated by Giorgia Grilli, Colpa delle Stelle [The Fault in our Stars], Mondadori, page 81:
      «E che cosa avrei fatto io a lei?» ha chiesto, sulla difensiva.
      "What'd I do to her?" he asked, defensive.
      (literally, “"And what would I have done to her?" he asked, on the defensive.”)