darsi pena

Literally, “to give oneself punishment”.

dàrsi pena (first-person singular present (with syntactic gemination after the verb) mi dò pena, first-person singular past historic mi dièdi pena or mi diédi pena or mi détti pena or (traditional) mi dètti pena, past participle dàto pena, first-person singular future mi darò pena, first-person singular subjunctive mi dìa pena, first-person singular imperfect subjunctive mi déssi pena, second-person singular imperative dàtti pena)

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) to take pains
   • 2019, George Orwell, translated by Nicola Gardini, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mondadori:

     Aveva più che mai l'aria del maestro che si da pena per uno scolaro ribelle ma promettente.

     More than ever he had the air of a teacher taking pains with a wayward but promising child.

     (literally, “He had more than ever the air of the teacher who takes pains for a rebellious but promising pupil.”)

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