This is the most confusing this I've had to ask.

I'm looking for a translation for an Irish idiom in an ebedded clause. For example:

*"John persuaded all hell to break loose."


Where "all hell broke loose" is the English idiom. The important thing to keep is the verb "persuaded" taking the phrase. Finding an idiom with a subject and a verb may be difficult. It's also important (if at all possible) for the embedded clause to be nonfinite.

The key question is, does the idiom keep its idiomatic reading when in these places? In English, it does not in either case.

I know this is long winded and confusing (even for me and I'm the one writing it), but any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

"cat a chuir i measc na mion-éan"

set a cat among the small birds

Mheall Seán an cat le dul i measc na mion-éan
persuaded * John * the cat * to go * among the small birds

That's awesome. Does the sentence maintain the idiomatic reading in the second sentence?

I'm not sure what you mean.
But I think it would be understood as a metaphor rather than a literal reading; however, it is an odd use of language.

That's it, thank you.