fare a meno

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to do at less”.

Verb

fàre a meno (first-person singular present fàccio a meno, first-person singular past historic féci a meno, past participle fàtto a meno, first-person singular imperfect facévo a meno, second-person singular imperative fài a meno or fà' a meno, auxiliary avére)

1. (intransitive) to do without [with di]

   Synonym: fare di meno

   devi fare a meno di fumare ― you have to do without smoking

   non ho potuto fare a meno di dirglielo

   I could not help but tell it to him

   • 2019, George Orwell, translated by Nicola Gardini, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mondadori:

     Sapeva bene che così le lasciava tutt'e due a bocca asciutta, ma non poteva farne a meno; si sentiva perfino in diritto di agire a quel modo.

     He knew that he was starving the other two, but he could not help it; he even felt that he had a right to do it.

     (literally, “He knew well that, in this way, he left them both starving, but he could not help it; he even felt entitled to act in that way.”)