ficare

Ficare is an Italian verb meaning to put, insert, or thrust something into another object. It is transitive and used in both literal contexts (ficare una chiave nella serratura) and figurative ones (ficare un discorso in una riunione). In standard Italian it is widely understood but is more common in spoken language; in formal writing it may be replaced by inserire, mettere, porre, or fissare depending on sense.

Etymology: The verb has ancient roots in Romance languages, linked to verbs meaning to fix or fasten, and appears in medieval Italian in forms that show a sense of inserting or driving in.

Usage notes: The reflexive form ficarsi expresses entering or getting oneself into something, as in ficarsi nei guai. An idiom frequently cited is ficare il naso negli affari altrui, meaning to pry into others' business.

Regional usage: The term is especially common in Northern and central Italian speech, with some regional varieties using it more extensively; it may be avoided in formal prose in favor of inserire or mettere.

See also: inserire, mettere, porre, fissare; ficarsi.

References: In general, standard Italian dictionaries record ficare as a verb meaning to insert or to thrust.