ce l'ho
The Italian way to express the English concept of "dibs" is ce l'ho.
The phrase is used to reserve to the right to something before anyone else.
Meaning: said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else (intj)
Did you know?
- The 'l' in ce l'ho stands for 'lo' or 'la', meaning you must choose the correct gendered pronoun for the object you are claiming, even if you are speaking quickly.
- Because the phrase is so short and common, shouting ce l'ho! can sometimes lead to confusion in a loud room, as it sounds identical to someone simply stating they possess an object.
- Unlike the English 'dibs' which is often used as a standalone exclamation, ce l'ho is grammatically a complete sentence with a subject and a verb.
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are deciding who gets the best chair.
- SofiaGuarda quella poltrona comoda!Look at that comfy armchair!
- AlessandroCe l'ho!Dibs!
- SofiaMa sei stato troppo veloce, Alessandro!But you were too fast, Alessandro!
- AlessandroChi primo arriva, meglio alloggia.First come, first served.
