non farcela

not to make it

→ non

phrase Extremely common #124

not to make it Cela refers to a situation or task already understood from context. The expression is often used for failing to succeed, cope, or arrive/survive in time.

IT: Con questo traffico, temo di non farcela in tempo.

EN: With this traffic, I'm afraid I won't make it in time.

Credevamo proprio di non farcela.

We really thought we wouldn’t make it.

— C'era una volta il West (1968)

Potrebbe non farcela fino a domani.

He might not make it until tomorrow.

— Viaggio a Tokyo (1953)

E non avevi paura di non farcela?

And you weren't afraid you wouldn't make it?

— La storia infinita (1984)

Valery, potrebbero non farcela.

Valery, they might not make it.

— Salyut 7 - La storia di un'impresa (2017)

Se pensi di non farcela.

If you think you can't do it.

— The Smashing Machine (2025)