kalla ekki allt ömmu sína
Icelandic
Etymology
Literally, “doesn't refer to everything as his grandmother”. From the latter half of the 19th century; origins unclear but assumed to have originated as a joke making fun on someone who bragged about his family tree.
Phrase
- (idiomatic) to be unafraid of tackling a difficult task
- (idiomatic) not easily shocked; tough and resilient
Synonyms
- ráðast ekki á garðinn þar sem hann er lægstur
- láta ekkert á sig fá, karl í krapinu, óhræddur, ófeiminn, hörkutól, harðjaxl, enginn veifiskati, láta sér fátt fyrir brjósti brenna
Related terms
- þar hitti skrattinn ömmu sína (“to meet someone equally or more stubborn than oneself”)