prendere la parola

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to take the word”.

Verb

prèndere la parola (first-person singular present prèndo la parola, first-person singular past historic prési la parola, past participle préso la parola, auxiliary avére) (intransitive)

1. to begin speaking
2. (politics) to take the floor
   • 2020, Barack Obama, chapter 13, in Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, Giuseppe Maugeri, transl., Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:

     ... tuttavia, quando prendeva la parola era sempre prodigo di informazioni dettagliate e soluzioni creative su un ampio spettro di problemi riguardanti la sicurezza nazionale.

     ... but when he did speak up, he was full of detailed insights and creative solutions across a whole set of national security problems.

     (literally, “... however, when he took the floor he was always lavish with detailed information and creative solutions on an ample spectrum of problems regarding national security.”)