Italian idioms

Gattamorta means slyboots; fare la gatta morta -literally to do the dead cat- means to play dumb.

Perdere la testa -also "perdere il controllo, perdere le staffe"- means to run amuck. Furthermore "fare perdere la testa a qualcuno" stands for to sweep sb off their feet.

Avere le braccia corte = to have short arms
In Italy, cheap people are said to have "short arms." Just imagine a tyrannosaurus rex trying to reach into its pockets for its wallet. Impossible, even if it's his turn to pay the round of drinks at the bar!