Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
provato dalla vita
English translation:
life has left him/her worse for wear
Added to glossary by
Lisa Jane
Mar 18, 2021 10:44
3 yrs ago
33 viewers *
Italian term
Adrian James
provato dalla vita
Italian to English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
private letter between friends
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Proposed translations
+2
14 mins
Selected
life has left him/her worse for wear
Here is an idiomatic rendition. To be provato is to be worn down by something so you could also say
worn by the trials of life ( keeping the connection with 'provato-prove'
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Note added at 16 mins (2021-03-18 11:00:16 GMT)
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https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/the-wor...
worn by the trials of life ( keeping the connection with 'provato-prove'
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Note added at 16 mins (2021-03-18 11:00:16 GMT)
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https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/the-wor...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
FRANK KEENAN
: Without context the phrase is too general - as other contributors rightly said, the gist is worn out/ drained/ a bit worse for wear etc
29 mins
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Thanks
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| neutral |
philgoddard
: I don't think we can know what effect it had on him. He could have experienced all kinds of suffering and come out smiling. It's a pity this question is from a non-logged-in visitor, so there probably won't be any more context or points.
2 hrs
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Provato in Italian usually has a negative connotation, if you say someone is provato it means it has taken its toll on them.
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| agree |
martini
: Treccani: Part. pass. provato, in funzione verbale: persona provata dalle avversità, dalle disgrazie e sim., la cui vita è stata segnata da eventi difficili o dolorosi;
3 hrs
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Thanks!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
11 mins
Isabella Nanni
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
Italy
Marketing Finance Books Law Tourism
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, German to Italian, Spanish to Italian, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
1
someone who went through (suffered) a lot in his/her life
you're not providing much context, but this is what it means
2 hrs
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
42
he has gone through a lot of trials and tribulations during his life
Since "provare" means to be tested.
Or more informally, "life has put him through the wringer".
Or more informally, "life has put him through the wringer".
Reference comments
9 hrs
Reference:
Thanks for making a suggestion about translating “provato dalla vita” taken from a private letter between friends, referring to 2020/21 and the pandemic. Here are some more suggestions from all sources:
tested by life
tried by life
put to the test by life
knocked about by life
stressed out by life
stretched to the limit by life
worn down by life’s trials (and tribulations)
stretched on life’s rack
dismayed by life’s troubles
dismayed by life’s ups and downs
drained by life
life has taken its toll
put through the wringer
left worse for wear
went through a lot
suffered a lot
tested by life
tried by life
put to the test by life
knocked about by life
stressed out by life
stretched to the limit by life
worn down by life’s trials (and tribulations)
stretched on life’s rack
dismayed by life’s troubles
dismayed by life’s ups and downs
drained by life
life has taken its toll
put through the wringer
left worse for wear
went through a lot
suffered a lot
Discussion