Learn some of the most popular Norwegian idioms
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Intro |
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| Hi everybody! Anette here. Welcome to Ask a Teacher, where I’ll answer some of your most common Norwegian questions. |
| The Question |
| The question for this lesson is: What are the Top 10 most popular Norwegian idioms? |
| Explanation |
| In English, we have our fair share of idioms, like, “It’s raining cats and dogs!” or even, “What’s up?” Here are the Top 10 Norwegian idioms you should know. |
| Number 10: Når katten er borte, danser musene på bordet. This literally translates as “When the cat is gone, the mice dance on the table.” This means that when the person in charge is gone, people do as they like. |
| Number 9: Det fins ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær means, “Bad weather doesn't exist, only bad clothes.” Norwegian parents often use this when children are complaining that they have to go out and play when it rains or snows. |
| Number 8 is, Å være midt i smørøyet. That means, “to be in the middle of the butter melting in the porridge.” In other words, it means to be in a good or favorable situation or place. Norwegians put the butter in the center of their porridge, that’s how it got the meaning of being in the center when something good is happening. |
| Number 7: Svin på skogen means, “pigs in the woods.” This is used when someone is hiding something sketchy. This originated from when a tax collector would come to a farm and a peasant would hide some of his pigs in the woods to avoid paying taxes. |
| Number 6: Være på bærtur or å være på jordet meaning, “to be on berrypicking” or “to be in the field.” This actually means “to be dead wrong.” This is because when someone is out berrypicking or in the field they're far away. So, in turn, you’re “far away” from understanding or correctness. |
| On to Number 5! Dra dit peppern gror. This literally means, “Go where the pepper grows.” You use this when you're mad and want someone to go away. |
| Number 4: Feie for sin egen dør, “to sweep for one’s own door.” This means that one should be aware of one's own failures before criticizing someone else’s. |
| Number 3: Tråkke i salaten means “step in the salad.” You use this when you have said or done something you shouldn't have. |
| Number 2: Å sitte med skjegget i postkassa literally means, “to sit with your beard in the mailbox.” You use this when you’re in a situation you can’t get out of. |
| And the number one Norwegian idiom is: Ugler i mosen. “Owls in the moss.” This is used when something fishy is going on. |
Outro |
| Pretty neat, right? |
| If you have any more questions, please leave a comment below! |
| Hade. Vi sees snart! “Bye. See you soon!” |
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