quanto basta

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “as much as is enough”.

Prepositional phrase

quanto basta

1. to taste

   sale quanto basta ― salt to taste

2. (figurative, by extension) sufficiently, enough, as needed
   • 2012, John Green, translated by Giorgia Grilli, Colpa delle Stelle, Mondadori, page 113:

     Era Lidewij. L'eyeliner che colava lungo le guance, sconvolta quanto basta, ci inseguiva lungo il marciapiede.

     It was Lidewij, her eyeliner running down her cheeks, duly horrified, chasing us up the sidewalk.

     (literally, “It was Lidewij. Eyeliner running down her cheeks, sufficiently distraught, she chased us up the sidewalk.”)