dannarsi l'anima
Meaning: To work extremely hard or exert oneself to the utmost.
Language: Italian
Literally: to damn one's soul
Category: The Absurd
Origin: The image is of someone so consumed by effort that they would risk their very soul—a hyperbolic expression of total commitment and exhaustion.
More idioms — The Absurd
- come butta — What is happening; how are things going.
- a casa del diavolo — Far away; a great distance to travel; the long way around.
- sem tamanho — enormous, immensely large.
- há algo de podre no reino da Dinamarca — something is deeply wrong or suspicious, though the truth may be hidden.
- brincar com fogo — to engage in a risky or dangerous behavior; to put oneself in harm's way.
- er met een jantje-van-leiden van afmaken — to perform a task carelessly, half-heartedly, or in a slipshod manner.
More Italian idioms
- guardarsi alle spalle — To remain vigilant and aware of dangers or threats that might come from behind.
- qui casca l'asino — That is the crux of the matter; that is where the real difficulty lies.
- mettersi al passo con i tempi — To keep up with current events or modernize one's knowledge and habits.
- battere la grancassa — To advertise or publicize something widely and loudly; to spread news or promote somethin…
- far battere il cuore — To cause someone to worry or to stir romantic feelings in someone.
- mandare giù — To accept or tolerate something unwillingly, often swallowing one's pride or doubts.
From our untranslatable words
- Meriggiare — To take a quiet midday rest in a cool, shaded spot, escaping the fierce afternoon sun.
- Magari — One word doing the work of 'if only', 'I wish', 'perhaps' and 'you bet' — the tone decide…
- Sprezzatura — The art of making something difficult look wholly effortless, hiding every trace of the w…