In English, when you want to express that someone is weak-willed or isn’t courageous, you can say “She doesn’t have a backbone” or “She has no spine.”
In Italian, it’s basically the same thing. You say, “Non ha spina dorsale.” Notice that you don’t include the indefinite article “una.”
If you want to express that someone is being a pushover, you use the word “pollo - chicken.”
As in, “Lei è proprio un pollo, perché non è in grado di difendersi da sola? - She’s really a pushover, how come she isn’t able to stand up for herself?”
Have questions about this phrase or other related phrases? Leave a comment below!
Un abbraccio,
Cher
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[Italian Lesson] She’s got no backbone at all.