Investire vs. mettere sotto
The Italian verbs investire and mettere sotto both refer to running over someone or something with a vehicle, but they have subtle differences in usage and connotation.
Investire
B1Investire is a more formal and commonly used term for running over someone or something with a vehicle. It can be used in both casual conversation and official contexts.
L'auto ha investito un pedone sul passaggio pedonale.
(The car ran over a pedestrian on the crosswalk.)
Il ciclista è stato investito da un camion.
(The cyclist was run over by a truck.)
Attenzione a non investire gli animali sulla strada.
(Be careful not to run over animals on the road.)
Mettere sotto
B2Mettere sotto is a more colloquial and informal expression for running over someone or something. It literally means to put under and is often used in everyday speech.
Il guidatore distratto ha messo sotto un gatto.
(The distracted driver ran over a cat.)
Stai attento a non mettere sotto qualcuno mentre fai retromarcia.
(Be careful not to run over someone while you're backing up.)
Il bambino ha quasi messo sotto la sua bicicletta giocattolo.
(The child almost ran over his toy bicycle.)
Summary
While both investire and mettere sotto describe the act of running over someone or something with a vehicle, investire is more formal and widely used in various contexts, whereas mettere sotto is a more casual, colloquial expression often used in everyday conversation. Investire is typically used in news reports and official statements, while mettere sotto might be heard more in informal discussions or storytelling.