| cenno col capo | a nod | |
| col cappello in mano | with his hat in his hand | |
| col cerino in mano | with a match in his hand | |
| col favore della notte | under cover of night | |
| col favore delle tenebre | under cover of darkness | |
| col patto di | on the condition that | |
| col piede giusto | off on the right foot | |
| col piede sbagliato | off to a bad start | |
| col tempo | over time | |
| da tagliarsi col coltello | so thick you have to cut it with a knife | |
| finire col | end up with | |
| l'aspirare col naso | inhaling through the nose | |
| lisciarsi col becco | to smooth out with one's beak | |
| non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco | You can't always have it both ways |