Italian Phrase
I biglietti sono andati a ruba.
Meaning
Literally, 'The tickets have gone to robbery', but idiomatically it means that the tickets have sold out completely. It conveys that demand was so high that no tickets remain available.
When to use
Use this sentence right after you discover that an event, concert, or show no longer has any tickets left. It works in both spoken and written Italian, especially in informal or semi‑formal contexts such as social media, emails to friends, or casual conversation with colleagues.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ibigliettisonoandatiaruba
Definite article (I)
The plural masculine definite article 'I' agrees with the noun 'biglietti' (tickets).
Noun (biglietti)
Plural masculine noun meaning 'tickets'.
Auxiliary verb (sono)
The auxiliary 'essere' is used with the past participle 'andati' to form the passato prossimo for verbs of motion.
Past participle agreement (andati)
The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject; here it is masculine plural.
Idiomatic expression (a ruba)
The fixed phrase 'andare a ruba' means 'to be sold out' or 'to disappear quickly because of high demand'.
🗨In Conversation
Hai comprato i biglietti per il concerto di Laura Pausini?
Did you buy tickets for Laura Pausini's concert?
No, sono andati a ruba ieri sera.
No, they sold out last night.
✕Common Mistakes
I biglietti è andati a ruba.
The verb must agree with the plural subject; use 'sono' not 'è'.
I biglietti sono andati a rubare.
The idiom is 'andare a ruba', not 'andare a rubare' (which would mean 'to go stealing').
I biglietti sono andato a ruba.
Past participle must be plural to match 'biglietti'.
↔Alternatives
I biglietti sono finiti.
The tickets are gone.
I biglietti sono esauriti.
The tickets are exhausted/sold out.
Non ci sono più biglietti disponibili.
There are no tickets left.
Cultural Tip
The expression 'andare a ruba' is a vivid, colloquial idiom used throughout Italy to describe anything that disappears quickly because of high demand—tickets, shoes, limited‑edition sneakers, etc. It is informal but widely accepted in everyday speech. In more formal writing you might prefer 'esaurirsi' or 'essere esauriti'. Regional variations exist: in the south you may also hear 'andare a ruba' pronounced with a slightly longer vowel in 'ruba' (['ruːba']).