Italian Phrase
Tira, mira, premi, spazza.
Meaning
A rapid series of commands meaning ‘Pull, aim, press, sweep.’ It’s often used to describe a sequence of actions in a game, sport, or quick‑fix instruction.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to give a short, punchy set of instructions to someone you’re familiar with – for example, a teammate in a video game, a friend helping you clean, or a child learning a simple routine.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tiramirapremispazza
Imperativo (tu) – -are verbs
For regular -are verbs, the singular informal imperative drops the final -re, leaving -a (e.g., tirare → tira, mirare → mira).
Imperativo (tu) – -ere verbs
For -ere verbs like premere, the imperative ends in -i (premere → premi).
Imperativo (tu) – double consonant
With verbs ending in -zzare, the double consonant is kept (spazzare → spazza).
Pronoun placement
In the imperative, object pronouns attach to the end of the verb (e.g., ‘tiralo’), but in this list they are omitted for brevity.
🗨In Conversation
Tira, mira, premi, spazza!
Pull, aim, press, sweep!
Ok, lo faccio subito.
Okay, I’ll do it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Tirare, mira, premi, spazza.
The infinitive is used instead of the imperative; you need the command form ‘tira’.
Tira, mira, premere, spazza.
Same issue – the infinitive is not a command. Use ‘premi’.
Tira, mira, premi, spazzare.
The infinitive is not a command; the correct imperative is ‘spazza’.
Tiri, miri, prema, spazzi.
These are the formal imperatives (Lei). They sound too polite for a quick, informal instruction.
↔Alternatives
Tira, punta, schiaccia, spazza.
Pull, point, crush, sweep.
Tira, guarda, clicca, pulisci.
Pull, look, click, clean.
Tira, fissa, premi, spazza.
Pull, fix your eyes, press, sweep.
Cultural Tip
All four verbs are in the informal singular imperative (tu). In Italian, this register is used among friends, teammates, or when giving direct instructions. If you need a more formal tone (e.g., speaking to a stranger or a superior), you would switch to the formal imperative: ‘Tiri, miri, prema, spazzi.’ Also, note that in some Southern Italian dialects the vowel sounds may be slightly shorter, but the written form stays the same.