In bocca al lupo (pronounced[inˈbokkaalˈluːpo];lit. 'into the wolf's mouth') is anItalianidiom originally used inopera andtheatre to wish a performergood luck prior to a performance.[1]
The standard response iscrepi il lupo! (IPA:[ˈkrɛːpiilˈluːpo]; 'may the wolf die') or, more commonly, simplycrepi! ('may it die').[2][3]
Equivalent to the English actor's idiombreak a leg, the expression reflects atheatrical superstition in which wishing a persongood luck is considered bad luck.[4][5][6] The expression is commonly used in Italy off stage, as superstitions and customs travel through other professions and then into common use, and it can sometimes be heard outside of Italy.
Its use originated with hunters wishing each other to be in dangerous situations.[7] Thesuperstitious use of wishing a negative or dangerous situation as a way of wishing good luck is common in other languages. Indeed, the general image of the wolf in the common language, both in Italy and in theWestern culture, is that of a dangerous, hungry and violent creature (e.g.wolf in sheep's clothing,cry wolf).[2]
A variation onin bocca al lupo isin culo alla balena, meaning 'into the whale's arse'. The correct response issperiamo che non caghi ('let's hope it doesn't shit').[8]
An alternative operatic good luck charm is the phrasetoi toi toi, originally an idiom used to ward off aspell orcurse, often accompanied byknocking on wood, and onomatopoeic spitting (or imitating the sound of spitting). Amongst English actorsbreak a leg is the usual phrase, while forprofessional dancers the traditional saying ismerde, from French for 'shit'. In Spanish and Portuguese, the phrase is respectivelymucha mierda andmuita merda, or 'lots of shit'.[9][10]
The American bandMurder by Death has an album titledIn Bocca al Lupo.[11]
The idiom is often used in the 2015 young adult bookInk and Bone byRachel Caine.
The dictionary definition ofin bocca al lupo at Wiktionary The dictionary definition ofcrepi il lupo at Wiktionary