For me the easiest way to earn a brava is to provide correct change, or pay 2.16€ instead of just 2.00€ so that a 1.66€ purchase is easier to make change for. When I travel to the U.S. or Britain I find myself plunking down ridiculous configurations of bills and change for a coffee, trying to make the job of the cashier nice and tidy, all with the secret intent of earning a brava. The clerk usually looks at me like an idiot and wonders why on earth I’d be giving them 2.16 in cash instead of making life easier by paying with Apple Pay or a contactless credit card. And then I know that I am not in Italy anymore.

Another way to earn a brava is to express an opinion that is slightly beyond brutally obvious, or might echo a matter of taste that the other person in the conversation shares. “I think that shutter would look better painted in gray” might very well elicit a “brava, brava, brava!”

I never wanted to know the true degree of awesomeness really being expressed, preferring to compare myself to an opera diva or a world-class ballerina when I make correct change, but John made me ask. So I talked to my hairdresser about it, asking him to rate brava on a scale from OK to Fabulous. Turns out it’s about a quarter of the way up the scale from OK. Another quarter up the scale is bravissima. I will still happily take any brava I can get. Try it, you may see what I mean. Next time you execute a great parallel parking maneuver, or think of the perfect response in a conversation, give yourself a hearty bravo and see how it feels.