Free Swedish Lesson :)

I saw one of those lists on facebook - in this case something like "17 funniest expressions in Swedish" but there a few too many faults in that list and when I looked up another (much longer) list it was absoultely dreadfully riddled with spelling errors and bad translations so I decided to make my own.

I hope it'll provide some enjoyment

Swedish Idioms

He walks like the cat around hot porridge – Han går som katten kring het gröt
(He’s beating around the bush)

He’s hot on the porridge – Han är het på gröten
(He’s eager)

Lower your spines! – Tagga ned!
(Chill!)

Round under the feet – Rund under fötterna
Drunk

Dung straight – Dyngrak
Wasted (drunk)

On the cinnamon – På kanelen
Drunk

Having a coppersmith – Ha kopparslagare
(Having a hangover)

Having a back-bang – Ha baksmälla
(Having a hangover)

No cow on the ice – Ingen ko på isen*
(No worries/No hurry/It’s OK/It’s cool)
*Can also be expressed as “no danger on the roof” (Ingen fara på taket) or as I frequently mangle it “no pig on the roof” (Ingen gris på taket – gris rhyming with kris, or crisis)…

He’s not got all hens at home – Han har inte alla höns hemma
He’s not got all the horses in the stable – Han har inte alla hästar i stallet
He’s not got all the knives in the drawer – Han har inte alla knivar i lådan
He’s got brownies in the barn loft – Han har tomtar på loftet
(He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed or He’s a bit loony)

Forest crazy – skogstokig
(Barking mad)

Payback for old cheese – Ge tillbaka för gammal ost
(Seek revenge/Payback)

There’s a dog buried – Det ligger en hund begraven
(Something’s fishy/suspicious)

I sense owls in the bog – Jag anar ugglor I mossen
(Something’s fishy/suspicious)

Pull one’s ears in – Dra öronen åt sig
(Get suspicious)

Throw an eye at this – Kasta ett öga på detta
(Take a look at this)

He’s got his head on a shaft – Han har huvudet på skaft
(He’s intelligent)

Make a hen out of a feather – Göra en höna av en fjäder
(Make a mountain out of a molehill)

Have cabbage on someone – Ta kål på någon
(Kill someone)

Seventeen too! – Sjutton också!
(Drat)

Speak out of your beard – Tala ur skägget
(Speak up/Clarify your meaning)

Clear as sausage broth – Klart som korvspad
(Clear as day)

In the time of the Count – I grevens tid
(In the nick of time)

I’ve got victory as in a small box – Jag har segern som i en liten ask
(I’m sure of victory)

Oh god that's genius! I'm going to constantly say 'throw an eye at this' love it!

Lol Valence, I dunno. Those two are the only ones I know of and I think they probably evolved as opposites...
That phrase with the owls makes me think of Twin Peaks for some reason... In English that is...

Speaking of throwing eyes on people, let's see if DeviantArt allows hotlinking...


Seems it does... This is by an old time and all time favourite artist of mine, Ursula Vernon . "It's all fun and games..." If you like Fun Fantasy, I suggest you visit her gallery (name is linked to DeviantArt Gallery - she also has more than one website but DA seemed the best gallery option). This is the mother of Homicidal hamsters, Holstein Frogs (and irises) and Red Wombat Studios, not to mention cute Chtulhu and Klimt's merganser (along with other birds... and fish... but I really like the merganser) and plenty of other things, mostly cute and/or furry or wierd. And fun.

I sense owls in the bog, because this one:

Seventeen too! – Sjutton också!
(Drat)

is just forest crazy, and makes no sense. Someone needs to speak out of their beard and explain it so it's as clear as sausage broth.

I'll let you know if I find someone with a beard. Assuming he can tear himself away from his porridge.

Oh god banj, I nearly choked laughing at that!