tirar leite de pedra

Portuguese

Etymology

Literally, “to milk a stone”.

Verb

tirar leite de pedra (first-person singular present tiro leite de pedra, first-person singular preterite tirei leite de pedra, past participle tirado leite de pedra)

1. (idiomatic) to get blood out of a stone, pull teeth (to do something very difficult or effortful)