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The beers are on the bride

While I was staying with family in Ancona on the East coast of Italy, I tried my best at speaking the little Italian I knew. We were at a lovely street café when I decided to give it a go and confidently ordered due birre alla sposa. I'd mistakenly ordered two beers on the bride rather than on tap - alla spina.

Editor's note: To say 'the drinks are on me', use offro io!

Sent by: Amy

Comments

tia, Shrewsbury 2010-03-01

I stayed in Milan with a young couple. I couldn't believe my eyes when I was served an ox tongue on lettuce.

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Franco 2007-07-03

La spina also means 'thorn' in Italian.

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Alison 2006-10-10

Recently sitting in the Piazza in Bologna at 10am, I tried to order two freshly squeezed orange juices... due spremute - two (orange) juices. The waiter looked at us a little strangely but brought us back the two sparkling wines I had ordered... due spumante.

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Igor 2006-06-12

At a pub, I was aiming at beer on tap, but having read this blunder, I couldn't remember which was the correct word: alla sposa or alla spina. The waiter was looking at me so I hastily said: una birra alla spinosa!

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Brunella 2005-11-29

Remember that la spina also means 'plug' in Italian ...

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