lepja dauðann úr skel

Icelandic

Etymology

From lepja (“to lap up”) and dauðann (“death”) and úr (“from”) and skel (“a shell”).

Verb

lepja dauðann úr skel (weak verb, third-person singular past indicative lapti dauðann úr skel, supine lapið dauðann úr skel)

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) to live in destitution, to live on the verge of starvation (compare French manger de la vache enragée)

See also

• berja gaddinn
• efnalaus
• vera á bláhjarni
• vera á flæðiskeri staddur
• vera á heljar þröm, vera á heljar þröminni
• snauður
• sultarlíf