da cima a fondo

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “from peak to bottom”.

Prepositional phrase

da cima a fondo

1. from top to bottom; completely, thoroughly
   • 1990, Ernest Hemingway, chapter 4, in Ettore Capriolo, transl., Fiesta [The Sun Also Rises], Mondadori:

     Lo lessi da cima a fondo, compresa la Piccola Posta e gli Annunzi Economici.

     I read it all the way through, including the Petite Correspondance and the Cornigrams.

     (literally, “I read it completely, including the Small Mail and the Economic Announcements.”)