IdiomBody & Senses
Icelandic
IcelandicAð kasta til höndunum
Meaning: To do a job carelessly and in haste.
Literally: To throw with your hands
Example: “Smiðurinn kastaði til höndunum og hurðin lokast ekki.” — The carpenter just went through the motions and now the door won't close.
English equivalent: To go through the motions
Equivalents in other languages
Russian: работать спустя рукава (rabotat' spustya rukava) Literally: To work with sleeves let down
Dutch: Iets met de Franse slag doen Literally: To do something with the French stroke
Malay: Melepaskan batuk di tangga Literally: To cough on the stairs and leave- Dutch: er met een jantje-van-leiden van afmaken Literally: To finish it off with a little John from Leiden
English: go through the motions
Origin: "To throw with one's hands": doing a job carelessly, flinging it together instead of working at it. The phrase is everyday Icelandic and has no particular story behind it.
More Icelandic idioms
- Rúsínan í pylsuendanum A pleasant, unexpected bonus at the very end.
- Að fara í geitarhús að leita ullar To seek something where it can't possibly be found.
- Að leggja árar í bát To give up and stop trying.
- Að leggja höfuðið í bleyti To sleep on a problem and think hard about it.
- Þetta reddast Things will work out fine in the end.
- Að ganga með grasið í skónum To pursue someone persistently, especially to court them.
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- Iktsuarpok The restless anticipation that makes you keep stepping outside to see if someone is final…
- Meraki Pouring your soul, love, and creativity into whatever you do — cooking, art, anything.
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