Italian hand（常作 a fine Italian hand）是英语中典型的国别贬义习语，与字面“意大利人的手”完全无关。其源于17—18世纪英国对意大利政治、外交的刻板印象——认为意大利人擅长隐秘权谋、幕后操控、狡黠布局；同时也关联中世纪意大利手写体（Italian handwriting） 细腻隐蔽、不易辨认的特征，双重隐喻衍生为习语，含义指暗中干预、幕后操纵、狡黠手段、隐秘操控力。强调“不露痕迹、背地里左右事态”，多用于政治、外交、人际、婚恋等场景。
如：
I sense his fine Italian hand in this whole affair.
我察觉到整件事背后都有他暗中操纵的痕迹。
There’s a fine Italian hand behind the sudden collapse of the negotiations.
谈判突然破裂，背后显然有人暗中作祟。
She denied having an Italian hand in the company’s internal conflicts.
她否认自己在公司内部纷争中进行过幕后干预。
The opposition accused the ruling party of using Italian hand to rig the election.
反对党指控执政党通过隐秘手段操纵选举。
We all suspect there’s an Italian hand in the military coup rumors.
我们都怀疑军事政变谣言背后有势力在暗中布局。
His Italian hand in the family inheritance caused bitter quarrels.
他在家庭遗产问题上的暗中操控，引发了激烈争吵。
The economist warned against the Italian hand of monopolies in market regulation.
经济学家警告要警惕垄断资本在市场监管中的隐秘干预。
I can detect the fine Italian hand of her rival in this scandal.
我能看出这场丑闻里有她对手在背后使坏。
He soon realized his girlfriend had a fine Italian hand in ending his past relationships.
他很快发现，前女友一直在暗中破坏他之前的每一段恋情。
Don’t date a Spanish athlete or trust an Italian hand in love—both are full of tricks.
恋爱别找爱吹牛的人，也别信暗中操控的人，两者都满是心机。
Her fine Italian hand destroyed his trust; love can’t survive secret manipulation.
她的暗中操控摧毁了他的信任，爱情容不下背地里的算计。
There’s always a fine Italian hand behind every political scandal in Washington.
华盛顿每桩政治丑闻背后，都少不了隐秘的幕后黑手。《纸牌屋》
I’m sure there’s an Italian hand in this sudden marriage arrangement.
我敢肯定，这场仓促的婚事安排背后必阴险黑手暗中操控。《唐顿庄园》
