Umarell

Umarell is a term popular in Bologna referring specifically to men of retirement age who pass the time watching construction sites, especially roadworks - stereotypically with hands clasped behind their back and offering unwanted advice. Its literal meaning is "little man", and it is often pluralized in spelling by adding a l and a final s. The term is increasingly used in other parts of Italy, sometimes in association with zdaura referring to an umarell's wife. With the above-described meaning, the term has been admittedly created by the writer Danilo Masotti in 2005, deliberately distorting the classical dialect of Bologna. Masotti subsequently wrote two books and created an associated successful blog.