Despite common belief that considers it as an appetizer preceding the
main course, in Italian restaurants actually it is a kind of dish which forces you to reject the rest of food you've already ordered.
As an accurate analysis of the word reveals, the prefix is not "
ante" which means "before" (as in other Italian words "anteprima"= "
preview" or "antenato"="forefather"), but is "anti" which means "against" (as in the Italian words "antifascista"="antifascist" or "anticlericale"="anticlerical")
Therefore the real meaning of the word is *"antimeal" or "against the meal"
Waiter:
Good evening, have you already seen what's
on the menu?
Customer: Yes, I'd like an
antipasto, please.
Waiter: Good choice! And then, what else?
Customer: Don't you understand what I'm saying?! I don't wanna eat your fucking food!