OK, so, to be honest, even we, in the UK, will say something like – “Can I borrow some sugar?” or “Could I borrow some paper to write on, please?” – when we really will not be borrowing it at all but taking it, using it and, probably, not replacing it.
However, here, there is an element of “borrowing” that one could say was stealing.
A friend told me, once, about the time she was in Florence, a number of years ago, and it was “accepted” that you “borrowed” bicycles. Of course, you never did take them back.
It probably happens these days but doesn’t really affect me.
However, one thing that is often “borrowed” is an umbrella.
The last few days it has been raining and, when it rains here, it rains for two or three days almost constantly, as I have mentioned before. So, of course, there are many umbrellas around.
And, when you go into a shop, bar or restaurant, at the door, they have places to leave your umbrella – to stop the floor getting wet.
This is all well and good except that you have to find your umbrella when you leave, from the masses that are there.
To be charitable, I will say that some people don’t really look carefully enough.
And so it was, last night, after having a pizza, I went to retrieve my umbrella to find it had gone. I selected the one that looked most like it and “borrowed” that.
It’s not a great umbrella but at least, unlike mine, the handle isn’t about to break!
My friend suggested that this was a bad thing to do but, as someone else had already “borrowed” mine, I thought it was very reasonable.
After all, unless the person had come without an umbrella then there should be the same number as had arrived, surely?
However, if you have a nice umbrella that you would rather keep, don’t leave it at the door in Milan, there’s only a 50-50 chance you’ll be able to pick it up when you leave!
And, on that note, this seems a very appropriate song/video!
I don’t know if the song above was the original one posted. This one is just a guess as the link didn’t work any more. Therefore, I gave you Rihanna with Umbrella.
OFF TOPIC
Hey Andy, I figured out how to enable answers on my tumblr.
As for the Italian approach to the verb “prestare” you are totally right. And it’s upsetting sometimes.
Prestare, dare o rubare?!
Good news about the tumblr blog. I’ll take a look.
It is upsetting when it’s something that you really like, I agree.
My umbrella was “borrowed” in my favourite Pasticceria in my city, one day when my father used it. I still think that someone has taken it by mistake, leaving one less good. I know, donkey does not fly…but please, let me think so!
Now, that’s interesting. Our phrase would be ‘pigs don’t fly’ and sure, I’ll let you think so!!