“Come hell or high water”in other languages
No matter what happens, whatever the obstacles.
English
French
Spanish
EnglishFrenchSpanishSame idea, different pictures
English pairs the worst place imaginable with a flood, the most practical disaster there is. French takes on the sea: contre vents et marées, against winds and tides, the two forces a sailor can't argue with.
Spanish plays with words: a pesar de los pesares, “in spite of all the sorrows”, where pesar is both “in spite of” and “grief”.
More sayings in other languages
- Come home to roost
- Come what may
- Mad as a hatter
- Cool one's heels
- Cost an arm and a leg
- Not give a hoot
- Count on the fingers of one hand
- Cry over spilled milk
- Cut the Gordian knot