Just a quick doubt. In portuguese "morto de fome" (morto di fame) is a figurative expression, nobody is really dead when we say it, so we translate as "he's starving". Is it the same in italian or do they really mean someone did die!?
I grew up in an Italian-American family, and it was used sarcastically the same way you'd call someone a pig, but much less harsh. "Hey, morto di fame, slow down and leave some for the rest of us!" I'm 50 and only learned today what it really means.