Si dice- Mi hanno detto- ma lo sai che??- Non lo sai?? (people say-I was told- do you know that?-don't you know that?). These are the most common expressions used by Italians when they start gossiping. Some studies carried out at the University of California and published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology showed that gossiping helps people to feel better as it lowers their levels of stress.

Italians really took these results at heart, as they love gossiping and talking about other people. In times gone by, it was not unusual to find old women outside their houses chatting with their friends about the neighbors, especially in small villages.