Italian Expression of the Day#8

Essere/sentirsi in vena means to be in the mood to do something but also to be fit to do something.

The expressions derives from doctors' old practice of feeling the pulse to determine a patient's health. If their pulse was good doctors would say the patient was in a good vein.

Usually this expression is used in the negative.

Ti va di andare a mangiare fuori stasera. No, grazie stasera non sono in vena di uscire.
How about we eat out tonight? No, thanks I'm not in the mood to go out tonight.

Credo che il nuovo atleta non sia nelle condizioni migliori. Si vede che oggi non e' in vena.
I thing the new athlete is not at his best. You can tell he's not in good shape today.