come hell or high water; no matter what; even if it kills me
Idiomatic expression conveying strong determination to achieve something despite any difficulty. Often used with verbs of effort or perseverance.
See also: 石にかじりついても
I want to make this project succeed, come hell or high water.
He intends to graduate from university, no matter what.
Also means 'by any means', but is slightly more formal and less colloquial than 石にかじりついてでも.
Most common spelling using hiragana for the verb part.
Uses the kanji 齧 for 'gnaw', which is less common but still seen.
Uses both 齧 and 付; very rare and may be considered over-specified.
Literally 'even if I have to gnaw on a stone', an idiomatic expression emphasizing extreme perseverance. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose from the vivid image of biting into something hard to convey unyielding determination.