Italian Phrase
Dagli cinque colpi sulla schiena.
Meaning
Literally, 'Give him five blows on the back.' It can be used figuratively to mean 'Give him a hard time' or literally in a context like a boxing match or a playful scolding.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to describe someone receiving a series of strikes on the back, either in a sports setting, a comedic scene, or metaphorically to indicate criticism or pressure.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Daglicinquecolpisullaschiena
Dagli
Contraction of 'da' + 'gli', meaning 'to the' (masculine plural) or 'give him' depending on context; here it's the indirect object pronoun meaning 'to him'.
cinque colpi
Cardinal number 'cinque' (five) followed by a plural noun 'colpi' (blows/hits).
sulla
Preposition 'su' (on) + definite article 'la' (the), forming 'sulla' meaning 'on the'.
schiena
Noun 'schiena' (back) is feminine singular; with 'sulla' it becomes 'on the back'.
🗨In Conversation
Dagli cinque colpi sulla schiena!
Give him five blows on the back!
Va bene, ma facciamoli leggeri, è solo per allenamento.
Alright, but let's keep them light, it's just for training.
✕Common Mistakes
Dai cinque colpi sulla schiena.
‘Dai’ means ‘give’ (imperative of dare) and would change the meaning; the correct contraction is ‘Dagli’ (to him).
Dagli cinque colpi sul schiena.
‘Sul’ is ‘su + il’ (masculine); ‘schiena’ is feminine, so you need ‘sulla’.
Dagli cinque colpo sulla schiena.
Number ‘cinque’ requires a plural noun; use ‘colpi’, not singular ‘colpo’.
↔Alternatives
Colpiscilo cinque volte sulla schiena.
Hit him five times on the back.
Fagli cinque schiaffi sulla schiena.
Give him five slaps on the back.
Dagli cinque pugni sulla schiena.
Give him five punches on the back.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, physical discipline is less common in modern families, so using this phrase in a literal sense can sound harsh. It is more often heard in sports (e.g., boxing) or in theatrical/comedian contexts. Be mindful of tone; a playful 'dai' can soften the command.