sudare sette camicie

/suˈdaːre ˈsɛtte kaˈmitʃe/◆idiom
work very hard

Ho sudato sette camicie per finire il progetto in tempo.

I worked very hard to finish the project on time.

◆ What It Really Means
to work extremely hard, often to the point of exhaustion
Literal Meaning
to sweat seven shirts
Literal Breakdown
sudareto sweat+sette camicieseven shirts
◇ Mental Image
The mental image is of someone drenched in sweat, so much so that seven shirts are soaked through, symbolizing extreme effort.
◈ When to Use
Imagine a student preparing for a difficult exam for weeks, or an employee working late nights to meet a tight deadline. They are metaphorically 'sweating seven shirts.'
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom reflects the Italian cultural value of hard work and perseverance, often used in contexts where effort is seen as a virtue.
informal

to work extremely hard, often to the point of exhaustion

Dopo aver sudato sette camicie, finalmente abbiamo chiuso l'affare.

After working extremely hard, we finally closed the deal.

Used to emphasize the effort and difficulty involved in achieving a goal.

Related Phrases

sudare sangueidiom
to work extremely hard, often to the point of exhaustion
sgobbare come un dannatoidiom
to work very hard, often in a difficult or unpleasant situation

Pro Tip

When to use

Use 'sudare sette camicie' when emphasizing the extraordinary effort required to achieve something, especially when the outcome was uncertain or difficult.

Gold Rule

Literal vs. figurative meaning

Never use this phrase to describe literal sweating or physical labor unrelated to effort. It always implies metaphorical 'sweat'—hard work.

Word Origin

The phrase originates from the literal image of sweating so much that seven shirts (camicie) are drenched. It reflects the idea of extreme physical labor or effort.

Usage Notes

This idiom is used in both personal and professional contexts to describe someone who has put in a tremendous amount of effort. It is common in spoken Italian and informal writing.

Dizionario Italiano-Inglese