succeeding in doing something

Question

Hi,What are the usual ways to express the meaning of succeeding in doing something? I'm not sure I can use make it or do it. I think make it is more about "being successful in you career", but what about "being successful on a singular occasion"? Examples:I'm trying to learn English. But it's too difficult, I think I'll never make it/ do it.  (I want to say: I'll never succeed in doing that)That's too heavy for you to lift! You can't make it/ do it (I want to say: You can't succeed in doing that)That's not so heavy. I think you can make it/ do it (I want to say: You can succeed in doing that)Yeah! That was not so simple, but I made it/ did it!!! (I want to say: I succeeded in doing that)Thank you

Tanit · Accepted Answer

I don't know if this helps, maybe for no. 1 I'd say I'll never manage to do it (non ce la farò mai)

Kooyeen · Answer

Hey Tanit, yeah, "non ce la faro' mai"

(It seems you know Italian

)

You guessed right, I'm interested in the Italian verb "farcela" (non ce la faro' mai, ce l'ho fatta, puoi farcela...). The meaning is more or less "succeeding in doing something". I don't know if there's an usual way to say that in English (especially American English).

Let's see what the others have to say about it, and thank you.

Tanit · Answer

I'm Italian!!! And you're right, a native speaker's opinion is much better than mine. Ciao!

Tanit · Answer

On a second thought, how about "cope with"?

Kooyeen · Answer

Yeah, that could work, but I was looking for something different... like "make it" or "do it". But it seems there's no other way except using the entire expressions "manage to do that", "succeed in doing that"...

J Lewis · Answer

Ciao Kooyeen

You can use "manage" alone:
Do you need a hand with that suitcase? No thanks, I can manage.
Also "succeed":
It's too difficult, I'll never succeed.

With "make":
It's late; I'll never make it to the station in time.

Kooyeen · Answer

Hi J.Lewis,

yes, I could use "manage" or "succeed" but I don't know if they fit in those contexts. Or for example in a context like this:

I still have an essay to write and I have to finish it before my mom gets back. That's practically impossible, I'll never (...), I can't (...) (meaning: I'll never succeed in doing that, I can't succeed in doing that)

In other words, I'm looking for typical expressions to say "being successful on one occasion, succeeding in doing something"

Seekerme · Answer

Good question. I decide to join into it. Please help us...

J Lewis · Answer

Hi Kooyeen

I still have an essay to write and I have to finish it before my mom gets back. That's practically impossible, I'll never manage in time.

I can't think of other expressions you could use.
In your first examples:

I'm trying to learn English. But it's too difficult, I think I'll never succeed.
That's too heavy for you to lift! You can't manage by yourself.
That's not so heavy. I think you can manage/do it.
Yeah! That was not so simple, but I did it.

There aren't very big differences between these expressions.
Make it is often used in the sense of arrival - making it to the station or an appointment - or also in the abstract:
Susan and Peter have had a lot of problems in their relationship and I don't know if they'll make it (if they'll reach a happy equilibrium and manage to stay together). For simpler actions you can often say do it.
Again not much difference between succeed and manage, but personally I would use manage for a short-term effort, like carrying a suitcase or finishing an essay, while succeed is more for a long-term objective like learning a language.

Kooyeen · Answer

I see. Yes, J.Lewis, the examples you gave me sound right to me. Like you, I can't think of other examples I could use. That's why I started this thread. So I think I'll keep using those verbs, one day I'll probably run across a new expression and I'll learn it...

Thanks

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