nevoie mare

Romanian

Etymology

Literally, “great wonder”. This sense of nevoie (literally “need”) is obscure, with speakers not being aware of the literal meaning of the expression anymore.

Adverb

nevoie mare

  1. (now ironic) awfully, mighty (very); awfully much, very much
    • 1882, Petre Ispirescu, “Găinăreasa [The poultrywoman]”, in Legende sau basmele românilor [Legends or the fairy tales of the Romanians], page 306:
      Împĕratulŭ o iubea, nevoe mare.
      [Împăratul o iubea, nevoie mare.]
      The emperor loved her awfully much.
    • 1990 April 10, M. Enescu, Dreptatea, year 22, number 55, Bucharest, page 1:
      Frontul Salvării Naționale este grăbit nevoie mare în lupta pentru putere.
      The National Salvation Front is awfully eager in the struggle for power.
  • nevoie de cap

Further reading

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