IdiomBody & Senses
Catalan
CatalanAnar a pams
Meaning: To proceed carefully, step by step.
Literally: To go by hand-spans
Example: “Amb aquest contracte hem d'anar a pams.” — With this contract we should look before we leap.
English equivalent: Look before you leap
Origin: A pam is a hand-span, the old measure of the distance from thumb to little finger. Going by hand-spans is moving forward a little at a time, carefully. Catalan also says conèixer a pams (to know by hand-spans), to know a place inside out.
Equivalents in other languages
Dutch: De kat uit de boom kijken Literally: To watch the cat out of the tree
More Catalan idioms
- Fer figa To give way or fail — of legs, knees or a plan.
- Fer dissabte To give the house a big clean-up.
- Anar de bòlit To be rushed off your feet.
- Pixar fora de test To go off topic or be plainly mistaken.
- N'hi ha per llogar-hi cadires The drama is so good it's worth watching like a show.
- Déu n'hi do Wow — that's quite something.
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