IdiomDaily Life
Italian
Italiansenza colpo ferire
Meaning: Without any struggle, opposition, or difficulty; achieved effortlessly.
Literally: Without a blow struck
Example: “La squadra di casa ha vinto senza colpo ferire.” — The home team won without a fight.
English equivalent: Without a fight
Equivalents in other languages
English: without a fight
Origin: Ferire here keeps its old sense of striking, so the phrase means "without striking a blow." The Hoepli dictionary explains that it first meant without fighting or bloodshed, and then, figuratively, getting something easily, by persuasion rather than force. French has the same phrase, sans coup férir.
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