mettercela tutta

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to put it all into it”.

Pronunciation

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Verb

méttercela tutta (pronominal, first-person singular present ce la métto tutta, first-person singular past historic ce la mìsi tutta, past participle mésso tutta, auxiliary avére)

1. to do one's utmost; to put one's back into; to go the extra mile

   Synonyms: darci dentro, fare l'impossibile; see also Thesaurus:impegnarsi

   • 2020, Barack Obama, chapter 22, in Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, Giuseppe Maugeri, transl., Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:

     Non mi sarebbe mai capitato di dover dire a qualcuno di darci dentro o mettercela tutta...

     I never had to tell anyone in the White House to work hard or go the extra mile...

     (literally, “It never occurred that I would ever have to tell someone to work hard or go the extra mile...”)