Swedish idioms and sayings
43 idioms · tap 🔊 to hear them
Literally: There's no cow on the ice
Means: There's no need to worry; there's no rush.
“Vi hinner till tåget, det är ingen ko på isen.”
B1
Literally: To slide in on a shrimp sandwich
Means: To get something easily, without having to work for it.
“Han har glidit in på en räkmacka hela livet.”
B2
Literally: Take it with a pinch of salt
Means: Don't take it too seriously or literally.
“Ta det han säger med en nypa salt.”
B1
Literally: To have the thumb in the middle of the hand
Means: To be clumsy or bad at practical things.
“Jag har tummen mitt i handen när det gäller att laga saker.”
B1
Literally: To put rhubarb on something
Means: To claim or grab something for yourself.
“Hon lade rabarber på den sista kakan.”
B2
Literally: To cross the river to fetch water
Means: To make things unnecessarily complicated.
“Varför gå över ån efter vatten? Fråga grannen!”
B2
Literally: To sleep like a log
Means: To sleep very deeply.
“Efter vandringen sov jag som en stock.”
A2
Literally: To have many irons in the fire
Means: To be busy with many projects at once.
“Hon har alltid många järn i elden.”
B2
Literally: To be out cycling
Means: To be completely wrong or confused.
“Om du tror det är du ute och cyklar!”
B1
Literally: To pull everyone over one comb
Means: To treat everyone the same; to generalise.
“Man ska inte dra alla över en kam.”
B2
Literally: There's a dog buried here
Means: Something is suspicious; something's not right.
“Han är för snäll idag – här ligger en hund begraven.”
B2
Literally: To suspect owls in the bog
Means: To suspect that something is wrong.
“Jag började ana ugglor i mossen när ingen svarade.”
C1
Literally: To buy the pig in the sack
Means: To buy something without checking it first.
“Provkör bilen – köp inte grisen i säcken!”
B2
Literally: Away is good, but home is best
Means: There's no place like home.
“Resan var fin, men borta bra men hemma bäst.”
A2
Literally: Just enough is best
Means: Moderation is best – not too much, not too little.
“Inte för mycket socker – lagom är bäst!”
A2
Literally: To hit two flies with one swat
Means: To achieve two things with one action.
“Jag handlar på vägen hem och slår två flugor i en smäll.”
B1
Literally: To be on slippery ice
Means: To be on uncertain or risky ground.
“Nu är du på hal is, var försiktig.”
B1
Literally: To walk like the cat around hot porridge
Means: To avoid the main point; to beat around the bush.
“Sluta gå som katten kring het gröt och säg det!”
B2
Literally: To have a fox behind the ear
Means: To be sly, cunning or mischievous.
“Akta dig, han har en räv bakom örat.”
B2
Literally: To forge while the iron is hot
Means: To act while the opportunity is there.
“Ansök nu – smid medan järnet är varmt!”
B1
Literally: To sit in the same boat
Means: To be in the same (difficult) situation.
“Vi sitter alla i samma båt.”
B1
Literally: To talk in the nightcap
Means: To talk nonsense.
“Nu pratar du i nattmössan!”
C1
Literally: Many small streams make a big river
Means: Every little bit adds up.
“Spara lite varje månad – många bäckar små!”
B1
Literally: To promise gold and green forests
Means: To make big promises that are hard to keep.
“Politikern lovade guld och gröna skogar.”
B2
Literally: To get cold feet
Means: To become nervous and back out.
“Han fick kalla fötter innan bröllopet.”
B1
Literally: To take the spoon in a nice hand
Means: To accept the situation and do what needs to be done.
“Det är tråkigt, men vi får ta skeden i vacker hand.”
C1
Literally: There's no bad weather, only bad clothes
Means: Dress right and any weather is fine.
“Ta på dig regnjackan – det finns inget dåligt väder!”
A2
Literally: To jump into the wrong barrel
Means: To make a wrong choice or mistake.
“Jag hoppade i galen tunna och tog fel buss.”
C1
Literally: To step on the keyboard (of a piano)
Means: To say something embarrassing; to put your foot in it.
“Jag trampade i klaveret när jag frågade om hennes ex.”
B2
Literally: To take water over one's head
Means: To take on more than you can handle.
“Med tre jobb tog hon sig vatten över huvudet.”
B2
Literally: To get caught with the beard in the mailbox
Means: To be caught red-handed in an embarrassing way.
“Han åkte dit med skägget i brevlådan.”
C1
Literally: To turn the coat after the wind
Means: To change your opinion to follow what is popular.
“Han vänder alltid kappan efter vinden.”
C1
Literally: Speaking is silver, silence is gold
Means: Sometimes it's wiser to stay quiet.
“Jag sa ingenting – tala är silver, tiga är guld.”
B1
Literally: Whoever waits for something good never waits too long
Means: Good things are worth waiting for.
“Kakan tar en timme, men den som väntar på något gott…”
B1
Literally: Right should be right
Means: Fair is fair.
“Rätt ska vara rätt – det var din idé.”
B1
Literally: To not see the forest for all the trees
Means: To miss the big picture because of details.
“Han ser inte skogen för alla träd.”
B2
Literally: To have a finger in the game
Means: To be involved in something.
“Jag misstänker att hon har ett finger med i spelet.”
B2
Literally: Whoever gapes for a lot often loses the whole piece
Means: Being greedy can make you lose everything.
“Var nöjd med vinsten – den som gapar efter mycket…”
C1
Literally: It's no art
Means: It's easy; nothing to it.
“Att baka bullar är ingen konst!”
A2
Literally: Bad gunpowder doesn't perish easily
Means: Said jokingly: tough (or naughty) people always survive.
“Jag är frisk igen – ont krut förgås inte så lätt!”
C1
Literally: To stand like a question mark
Means: To be completely confused.
“Efter förklaringen stod jag som ett frågetecken.”
B1
Literally: Better to flee than to fence badly
Means: Better to retreat than to fight a losing battle.
“Jag gick hem tidigt – hellre fly än illa fäkta.”
C1
Literally: Don't throw stones in a glass house
Means: Don't criticise others for faults you have yourself.
“Du är också sen ibland – kasta inte sten i glashus.”
B2
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