kemba hærurnar

Icelandic

Etymology

Literally, “to comb gray hairs”.

Verb

kemba hærurnar

1. (dated, chiefly in the negative) to grow old, to age

   Synonyms: verða gamall, eldast

   að kemba ekki hærurnar ― to die young (literally, “to comb no gray hairs”)

Usage notes

• Often used with the adverb ekki (“not”) meaning "to comb no gray hairs", i.e. to "die early" or to "die in the prime of life".