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

kalla ekki allt ömmu sína

  1. (idiomatic) to be unafraid of tackling a difficult task
    Hann kallar ekki allt ömmu sína en hann ætlar að hlaupa maraþon í sumar.He certainly doesn't flinch away from daunting tasks; he is planning on running a marathon this summer.
  2. (idiomatic) not easily shocked; tough and resilient

Synonyms

  • þar hitti skrattinn ömmu sína (to meet someone equally or more stubborn than oneself)