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
'Investire' 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
'Mettere 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.