Italian Phrase
Buttati a terra, copriti e tieniti forte.
Meaning
A rapid series of emergency commands: 'Drop to the ground, cover yourself and hold on tight.' It’s used when immediate physical protection is needed, such as during an explosion, an earthquake, or a sudden impact.
When to use
Use this phrase in urgent, high‑stress situations where you need to tell someone to protect themselves quickly. It’s informal (tu) and suitable among friends, family, or teammates in a crisis.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Buttati a terracoprititieniti forte
Reflexive Imperative (tu)
For verbs that require a reflexive pronoun, the imperative for 'tu' drops the final -i of the infinitive and adds the pronoun after the verb, e.g., 'buttare' → 'buttati'.
Verb 'coprire' → 'copriti'
The verb 'coprire' (to cover) becomes 'copriti' in the reflexive imperative, meaning 'cover yourself'.
Verb 'tenere' → 'tieniti'
In the imperative, 'tenere' changes to 'tieni' and the reflexive pronoun attaches, forming 'tieniti' (hold yourself).
Adverbial use of 'forte'
'Forte' here works as an adverb meaning 'tightly' or 'firmly', a common colloquial way to intensify the command.
🗨In Conversation
C’è un'esplosione, cosa facciamo?
There's an explosion, what do we do?
Buttati a terra, copriti e tieniti forte!
Drop to the ground, cover yourself and hold on tight!
✕Common Mistakes
Butta a terra, copriti e tieniti forte.
Missing the reflexive pronoun; the correct form is 'buttati a terra' for 'drop yourself'.
Buttati a terra, copri e tieniti forte.
Without the reflexive pronoun it means 'cover (something)', not 'cover yourself'.
Buttati a terra, copriti e tieni forte.
The reflexive pronoun is needed to convey 'hold yourself tight'.
↔Alternatives
Mettiti a terra, copriti e tieni saldo.
Get down, cover yourself and hold firm.
Scendi a terra, proteggiti e stringi forte.
Go down to the ground, protect yourself and grip tightly.
Allontanati, copriti e tieni la presa.
Step back, cover yourself and keep a firm grip.
Cultural Tip
In Italian the reflexive imperative is informal; for a formal address you would say 'Si butti a terra, si copra e si tenga forte.' Also, Italians often add 'forte' after 'tieniti' to stress the need for a strong grip, a colloquial nuance that sounds natural in emergencies.