a squarciagola

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “as if tearing one's throat”. See squarciare (“to rip, to tear”) and gola (“throat”).

Adverb

a squarciagola

1. (idiomatic) at the top of one's lungs
   • 2019, George Orwell, translated by Nicola Gardini, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mondadori:

     Lui filava giù per un corridoio colossale, largo un chilometro, allagato di luce dorata, sganasciandosi dal ridere e gridando confessioni a squarciagola.

     He was rolling down a mighty corridor, a kilometre wide, full of glorious, golden light, roaring with laughter and shouting out confessions at the top of his voice.

     (literally, “He dashed down a colossal corridor, a kilometre wide, flooded with golden light, breaking out with laughter and yelling confessions at the top of his lungs.”)