Italian Phrase
La linea va a scatti.
Meaning
Literally, “the line goes in jerks.” It is used to describe a service (usually a train or bus line) that runs in a stop‑and‑go, irregular fashion, or any line that moves in sudden bursts rather than smoothly.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to comment on the choppy, unpredictable nature of a public‑transport line, a production line, or even a line of people that keeps stopping and starting. It is informal and common in everyday conversation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lalineavaascatti
Definite article (La)
Feminine singular article used before a feminine noun that starts with a consonant.
Noun (linea)
Feminine noun meaning 'line' (e.g., a train line, a queue, a line of text).
Verb (va)
Third‑person singular present of andare ‘to go’; here it works like ‘moves’ or ‘behaves’.
Preposition (a)
Used after verbs to indicate the manner in which something happens (similar to ‘in’ or ‘by’).
Plural noun (scatti)
Plural of scatto, meaning ‘jerk, sudden movement, burst’. In this expression it describes a jerky, stop‑and‑go motion.
🗨In Conversation
La linea va a scatti.
The line is moving in jerks.
Sì, è meglio prendere l'autobus se vuoi arrivare puntuale.
Yes, it’s better to take the bus if you want to arrive on time.
✕Common Mistakes
La linea va a scatto.
‘Scatto’ is singular; the idiom requires the plural ‘scatti’ to convey multiple jerks.
La linea va in scatti.
Do not use ‘va in scatti’; the correct preposition after ‘va’ is ‘a’.
Il linea va a scatti.
If you are talking about a bus route, you can also say ‘la linea’ but avoid mixing gender (e.g., *il linea*).
↔Alternatives
La linea è irregolare.
The line is irregular.
Il servizio è discontinuo.
The service is intermittent.
Il treno parte a intermittenza.
The train departs intermittently.
Cultural Tip
In many Italian cities, especially in the south, public‑transport timetables can be flexible. Locals often use expressions like ‘va a scatti’ or ‘fa il capriccio’ to describe services that don’t run on a steady schedule. The phrase is informal, so reserve it for casual conversation rather than formal complaints.