cascare

Definition & meaning

Cascare means to fall, either physically or figuratively. It is often interchangeable with “to fall down” or “to drop.”

• A person or object can fall from a height or lose balance.
• Figuratively, it can mean to fall for something, such as a trick or a lie.

Grammar & Word origin

Cascare is a regular first-conjugation verb, ending in -are. In compound tenses it normally takes the auxiliary essere ↗: è cascato means “he fell” or “he has fallen.”

It comes from a Latin verb meaning “to fall.”

Synonyms & antonyms

• cadere ↗ — “to fall”; more neutral and common in formal language than cascare.
• precipitare ↗ — “to plunge” or “fall rapidly,” often from a height.
• rialzarsi ↗ — “to get back up,” an opposite when referring to a person who has fallen.

Common phrases & collocations

• cascare dalle nuvole ↗ — “to be completely surprised” or unaware.
• cascarci ↗ — “to fall for it,” as in being deceived.
• cascare a pennello ↗ — “to come at just the right time” or “to fit perfectly.”