IdiomBody & Senses
Spanish
Spanishdarse de cabezadas
Meaning: To struggle uselessly against an impossible problem or obstacle.
Literally: To give oneself head-blows
Example: “Me di de cabezadas dos horas con ese formulario.” — I spent two hours banging my head against a brick wall with that form.
English equivalent: To bang one's head against a brick wall
Equivalents in other languages
Croatian: Glavom kroz zid Literally: Head through the wall
English: bang one's head against a brick wall
Origin: A cabezada is a blow with the head, and banging one's head against a wall or a desk is the gesture of furious frustration at a problem that will not give way. English bangs its head against a brick wall in the same way. No particular story lies behind it.
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