perdido por um, perdido por mil

English translation: nothing to lose, everything to gain

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:perdido por um, perdido por mil
English translation:nothing to lose, everything to gain
Entered by: Oliver Simões

01:32 Jan 23, 2023
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Sports / Fitness / Recreation / Dictionary of Idioms
Portuguese term or phrase: perdido por um, perdido por mil
"Eu conheço a expressão perdido por um, perdido por mil. Tem origem no futebol, quando um time precisa vencer e está perdendo e quando o placar não importa. Assim, a única opção dele é atacar, abandonando qualquer outra preocupação.

Em um jogo normal, as equipes temem atacar porque se arriscam a sofrer um contra-ataque. No caso de uma equipe já estar perdendo, essa preocupação não se justifica, pois tanto faz perder de 1x0, 2x0, 3x0 ou 1000x0 (mil a zero) dá no mesmo.

Generalizando, essa expressão é usada quando não se tem mais nada a perder, quando uma pessoa está em uma situação difícil e só tem uma saída, que é arriscada. Assim, se essa alternativa única não funcionar, na pior das hipóteses ela ficaria na mesma, ou seja, mal." (WordReference)

I wonder if there's an English idiom for this. I found this explanation in English:

"... having started something, see it through to its end, rather than stopping short thereof: perdido por cem, perdido por mil; perdido por um, perdido por mil". English / Portuguese Dictionary, by Joseph D. Lesser, 2019.

L2: EN-US
Register: idiomatic
Oliver Simões
United States
Local time: 02:05
nothing to lose, everything to gain/have nothing to lose
Explanation:
A couple suggestions. One is a popular phrase that appears to come from a sports related biography, and the second, is an expression that I believe would work as a more formal translation for this, even if it sounds a little bland.
Selected response from:

ZT-Translations
Brazil
Local time: 06:05
Grading comment
Thanks again!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3In for a penny, in for a pound
Lara Barnett
4 +1a miss is as good as a mile
Nick Taylor
4might as well be hung for a sheep as a a lamb
Mark Robertson
3nothing to lose, everything to gain/have nothing to lose
ZT-Translations


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
nothing to lose, everything to gain/have nothing to lose


Explanation:
A couple suggestions. One is a popular phrase that appears to come from a sports related biography, and the second, is an expression that I believe would work as a more formal translation for this, even if it sounds a little bland.

Example sentence(s):
  • https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=nothing+to+lose%2C+everything+to+gain
  • https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Lose-Everything-Gain-Multimillionaire/dp/1591845998

    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/you-ve-got-nothing-to-lose
    https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/have-nothing-to-lose
ZT-Translations
Brazil
Local time: 06:05
Does not meet criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks again!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a miss is as good as a mile


Explanation:
a miss is as good as a mile

Nick Taylor
Local time: 10:05
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Clauwolf: or "close, but no cigar":)
5 hrs
  -> Ha ha! Cheers!
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
might as well be hung for a sheep as a a lamb


Explanation:
Meaning is context specific. You have provided none. "Perdido for cem perdido por mil" has a range of possible meanings. The explanation by Joseph D. Lesser, you cite, is just one, which interestingly underplays the meaning provided by the word "perdido".

The use of the word perdido connotes risk of loss.

My answer is an equivalent that works in contexts in which the risk element is paramount.

Mark Robertson
Local time: 10:05
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
In for a penny, in for a pound


Explanation:
Idiom
"used to say that a person should finish what he or she has started to do even though it may be difficult or expensive"
"If you want to quit, I'll understand." "No, I'm sure we can do this. In for a penny, in for a pound."
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in for a penny, i...

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Note added at 10 hrs (2023-01-23 12:03:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

This phrase is exactly the phrase used in the heading/title of this newspaper article about a footballer, who has reportedly "thrown everything" in to win this game. if you browse through the article, you will see how the final phrase basically sums up a similar situation to your quoted one:
"IN FOR A PENNY IN FOR A POUND
BARRY Ferguson was born and raised in Hamilton ..... .....
Sasa Papac afterwards claimed Rangers were now showing the "winning mentality" that could take them to the title, but no-one who witnessed the late flare-up - Neil's hack on Naismith leading to a pointless fracas - could accuse Hamilton of not having a go. In fact, it could be said that Hamilton threw everything at their visitors."
https://www.heraldscotland.com/default_content/12759582.penn...

Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:05
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Muriel Vasconcellos
6 mins
  -> Thank you

agree  Clauwolf
4 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  PaulaEsp
5 days
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