hare

From Old Swedish hari, hæri, from Old Norse *hari, heri, from Proto-Germanic *hasô.

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "ha det" (in ha det or more generally).


tare

Tare lugnt! (Ta det lugnt!)

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "ta det" (take it).


vene

ja vene asså

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "vet inte" (don't know); dunno


surt sa räven

From Aesop's fable The Fox and the Grapes.
Literally, "'Sour', said the fox (about the rowan berries)".


god jul och gott nytt år

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year


tusen tack

From tusen (“a thousand”) + tack (“thanks”). Compare Norwegian tusen takk, German tausend Dank.

Tusen tack för hjälpen!

many thanks, thanks a million, thank you very much


god jul

God jul, min vän


pappa betalar

Mikael Mölstad, "Vaskning och traskning – och nu blir det maskning", in Svenska Dagbladet, July 25, 2011.

Because the pubs ended the champagne spraying, the pampered rich boys (lit. "dad-pays boys") determined that they should show off their wealth by letting the staff pour out an extra bottle of champagne into the sink.

Eftersom krogarna stoppade champagnesprutandet bestämde pappa-betalar-gossarna att de skulle visa sin rikedom genom att låta personalen slå ut en extra flaska champagne i vasken.


hur står det till

Literally, "How is it?" See stå till.
Compare Norwegian Nynorsk korleis stend det til, dialectal Norwegian koss står det te and Norwegian Bokmål hvordan står det til.


dd

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of du då? (“and you? what about you?”).


sua sponte

Unadapted borrowing from Latin sua sponte.

ubor

Affären gick briljant, och den unge läkaren fick genom dessa mystifikationer både praktik och goda inkomster, någonting, som han säkerligen icke skulle ha fått om han sua sponte slagit sig ner och börjat praktisera. Mundus vult decipi!

1900, Ninian Wærnér, Mina hundår i Amerika, page 171:

The business prospered exceedingly, and the young doctor, by means of these mystifications, acquired both practice and a handsome income — something which he most assuredly would not have obtained had he sua sponte settled down and begun to practise. Mundus vult decipi!

[…] en dieselmotor som endast stannade sua sponte (spontant, reds anm.) framåt morgonkvisten […]

2015 October 2, Dagens nyheter, page 25:

[…] a diesel engine that only stopped sua sponte (spontaneously, editor's note) towards the early morning […]

(archaic) sua sponte; of one's own accord; spontaneously


eller

From Old Swedish ælla, ællar, from Old Norse ella, ellar, from Proto-Germanic *aljaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos.

Skämtade hon eller?

Ska du med eller?

Är du go eller?
Are you a swell guy or what? (regional, stereotypical phrase, Göteborg)


mycket snack och lite verkstad

Literally, "lots of talk and little workshop".

all talk and no action
all talk and no action

a situation where people talk a lot, but don't get much done; all talk and no action


haru

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "har du" (have you).


SUH

Initialism of skrattar ut högt; LOL (laughing out loud)


ingen ko på isen

Literally, "no cow on the ice". Short version of "det är ingen ko på isen så länge rumpan är i land" (there is no cow on the ice as long as the buttock is on land).

(idiomatic) the coast is clear; (there is) no immediate danger


det är rena grekiskan

It's all Greek to me
it's all Greek to me


först till kvarn

Ellipsis of först till kvarn får först mala. Literally, “first to the mill [gets to grind first]”, a principle found throughout Germanic people regarding the usage of mills.

ellipsis

first come, first served
first come, first served


vare

Vem vare som kasta[de]?

Who threw it? ("Who was it that threw?")

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "var det" (was it, it was).


jag är kär i dig

I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you


tala om trollen

Short for "När man talar om trollen, står de i farstun" (When one speaks of the trolls, they're out in the hallway).


stava som en kråka

Literally: to "spell like a crow (does)".

(simile) (usually self-mockingly) to spell badly; to make many spelling mistakes


skriva som en kråka

(simile) to have difficult-to-read hand-writing


hålla tummarna

keep one's fingers crossed
keep one's fingers crossed


hålla tummarna för

to wish someone luck with a deed or an undertaking


när helvetet fryser till is

when Hell freezes over
when Hell freezes over


måla fan på väggen

Literally, "paint the Devil on the wall".

A to B: "I am going to forget what to say and everyone is going to laugh at me."

B to A: "Do not paint the devil on the wall."

Hon målade verkligen fan på väggen när hon kallade sin partikamrat fascist.

She really went too far when she called her fellow party member a fascist.

to present a situation as being worse than it actually is


mao

Initialism of med andra ord (“in other words”).


eru

Vem eru?

Eru inte trött? Du har inte sovit nåt.

Aren't you tired? You haven't slept any.

(colloquial, Stockholm) Pronunciation spelling of "är du" (are you, you are).


ta någon på orden

take somebody literally
take somebody literally

to take somebody literally: to assume that someone meant what they said – literally (without doing any kind of second-guessing at what was really intended to be said, nor to interpret any kind of irony, sarcasm, etc. into it)


en droppe i havet

Literally, "a drop (of water) in the sea".

something which can safely be ignored; something very insignificant; something which will have no effect due to its diminutive size; a drop in the bucket/drop in the ocean


koka soppa på en spik

Since 1807, based on a well-known fairy tale. Literally, "to cook a soup on a nail".

to accomplish or produce something through minimal means; to produce something with no or very little available material


och så vidare

(idiomatic) and so on, et cetera, and so forth


hante

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "har inte" (have not).


lagom är bäst

enough is as good as a feast
enough is as good as a feast

(idiomatic) Just the right amount is best. Idiomatically, enough is as good as a feast.


sida upp och sida ned

a lot; (especially in newspapers and in books) something that there is written a lot about


smaken är som baken

head

smaken är som baken (lit. "taste is like the bum")

there's no accounting for taste
there's no accounting for taste


talar du engelska

do you speak English
do you speak English


inte ett nickel

Jag har inte ett nickel, jag är helt pank.

I have not a single coin, I'm completely broke.

without money; without even a single coin


föregå med gott exempel

Tränaren slutade röka för att föregå med gott exempel

The coach quit smoking to set a good example


jag förstår inte

From jag (“I”) and förstår (“understand”) the present tense of förstå (“to understand”) and inte (“not”), literally meaning "I don't understand" or "I understand not".


ha något på tungan

Jag har det på tungan.

on the tip of one's tongue
on the tip of one's tongue

have something on the tip of one's tongue


en vacker dag

en (“one”) + vacker (“beautiful”) + dag (“day”)

af

En vacker dag när du minst anar det kommer jag ta hämnd

One day, when you least expect it, I will take my revenge

En vacker dag lär han blanda fel där ute i kemilabbet och spränga sig själv i luften

One day, he's bound to accidentally mix the wrong stuff [mix wrong] out there in the chemistry lab and blow himself up [in the air] [not implying it's a good thing]

En vacker dag kom Nisse på besök

One day, Nisse came to visit [adds a bit of a "out of the blue" tone compared to "en dag"]

(idiomatic) one day, someday, one of these days (just like that)


klart som korvspad

(idiomatic) obvious (very easily understood)


köpa grisen i säcken

Literally, "to buy the pig in the sack".


kasta pärlor åt svin

kasta pärlor för svin
kasta pärlor för svin

cast pearls before swine
cast pearls before swine

(variant of kasta pärlor för svin) cast pearls before swine


lägga två strån i kors

Literally, "to put two straws as a cross".

Han lade inte två strån i kors för att hjälpa oss

(idiomatic) to give a minimum amount of attention or support


bakom flötet

head

bakom flötet (literally: behind the fishing float)

stupid, somewhat lacking in intelligence


ta seden dit man kommer

Literally, “to take the customs (of the place) where you come”. Easy to misinterpret as "bring the customs" in Swedish as well.

lit

when in Rome, do as the Romans
when in Rome, do as the Romans


s.a.s.

in a manner of speaking
in a manner of speaking

(initialism: short for så att säga) so to speak, in a manner of speaking


den som sa det kan va det

head

den som sa det kan va det ("the one who said it may be it")

I know you are but what am I
I know you are but what am I

(colloquial) I know you are but what am I?


mvh

med vänliga hälsningar
med vänliga hälsningar#Swedish

with kind regards; abbreviation of med vänliga hälsningar.


ingen fara på taket

the coast is clear; (there is) no immediate danger


det vete gudarna

I have no idea (and most likely, neither does anyone else)


bli tagen på sängen

bli tagen på sängen (Literally: "to be taken on the bed")

Jag blev helt tagen på sängen när någon påpekade frasens bokstavliga mening. Jag hade aldrig ens tänkt på det!

I was completely caught off guard when someone pointed out the literal meaning of this phrase. I had never even thought about it!

to be caught off guard; to be caught unprepared by something quite unexpected


välja mellan pest och kolera

välja mellan pest och kolera (literally: "choose between plague and cholera")

"choose between plague and cholera" (literally)

between a rock and a hard place
between a rock and a hard place

to only be able to choose between equally disadvantageous options; to be between a rock and a hard place


något är ruttet i konungariket Danmark

something is rotten in the state of Denmark


eller hur

Han är korkad, eller hur?

right; tag question used when the speaker expects agreement.


är du allergisk mot någon medicin

are you allergic to any medications
are you allergic to any medications


m.a.o.

Initialism of med andra ord (“in other words”).


m.fl.

som däggdjur räknas hundar, kor, katter m.fl.

as mammals count dogs, cows, cats and others

and others, etc.; Abbreviation of med flera.


o.s.v.

and so on; Abbreviation of och så vidare.


osv.

Abbreviation of och så vidare (“and so on”).


i och för sig

/ɪ(ʊ)fœˈʂɛj/

/ʏ(ʊ)fœˈʂɛj/

i (“in”) + och (“and”) + för (“for”) + sig (“itself”)

af

Sushi vore i och för sig väldigt gott. Jag har ändrat mig. Vi tar det istället för pizza.

Sushi would be very good though, now that I think about it. I've changed my mind. Let's have that instead of pizza.

– Du kan ju kasta en granat på monstret istället, så undviker du närstrid. – Ah, jo, i och för sig.
– You could throw a grenade at the monster instead. Then you'll avoid close combat. – Oh, right, now that you say it.

Det är väl i och för sig inte företagets fel att varubuden inte sköter sig

Though I guess you can't blame the company for the behavior of their delivery people ["It is I guess when I think about it / on the other hand not the company's fault that the delivery people do not behave themselves"]

Nej... fast i och för sig så har han skött sig tidigare, så låt gå för denna gång

No... although, when thinking about it, he has behaved well in the past, so I'll let him off this time

on the other hand
on the other hand#English

Expresses concession (often when realizing or recognizing something and retreating from an earlier position, but also more generally); "when thinking about it", "well, now that I think about it", "well, now that you say it", "oh yeah, you're right", on the other hand, etc.


hur mycket kostar det

how much does it cost
how much does it cost


inte ett smack

Jag hör inte ett smack av vad du säger!

I don't hear a word of what you're saying!

Jag fattar inte ett smack


tror du på Gud

do you believe in God
do you believe in God


jag är tjugo år

I am twenty years old
I am twenty years old


tack för din hjälp

thanks for your help
thanks for your help


vgd

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of vad gör du (“what are you (sing.) doing? what’s up?”).


isf

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of i så fall (“in that case”).


ta sig i kragen

ta (“take”) + sig (“oneself”) + i (“in”) + kragen (“the collar”).

get one's act together
get one's act together


först till kvarn får först mala

Literally, “first to the mill does the first grinding”, a principle found throughout Germanic people regarding the usage of mills.

first come, first served
first come, first served


goddag yxskaft

Known since 1800, from a story where a man - almost deaf - is sitting by the road, carving axe handles. He doesn't want to admit his lousy hearing, so when a stranger passed and says 'good day', he believes the stranger is asking what he's making, thus answering 'axe handles'. The rest of the conversation is just as disjointed. See also Danish goddag mand økseskaft.

(idiomatic) a response or answer that has nothing to do with the question; non sequitur


tårta på tårta

tårta (“cake”) + på (“on (can also mean "after")”) + tårta (“cake”)

Det är lite tårta på tårta att tala om ”ISBN-nummer”, eftersom N:et i förkortningen redan står för ordet ’nummer’.

It is a bit superfluous to talk about "ISBN number", since the N in the abbreviation already stands for the word 'number'.


jag behöver ...

a doctor — en läkare

food

help — hjälp

money — pengar

a map — en karta

water — vatten


gå som katten kring het gröt

The literal meaning is "to walk like the cat around hot porridge". The first attestation is from 1641 (see reference to Svenska Akademiens ordbok below). Compare with expressions like vara heta på gröten, "to be eager/impatient about something" (literally: "to be hot on the porridge").

1641, Svenska riksrådets protokoll
I gå som een katt kring om gröten.

beat around the bush
beat around the bush

(idiomatic) To avoid speaking or acting directly about something; to beat around the bush; to pussyfoot.


du är

you're it; a call when playing tag, literally "you are"


bättre sent än aldrig

better late than never
better late than never


en för alla, alla för en

one for all, all for one
one for all, all for one

sv:De tre musketörerna
sv:Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno


bostad först

housing first (treatment model for the homeless)


i elfte timmen

From a parable of Jesus, Matthew 20:6, where the last vineyard labourers were hired about the eleventh hour, just before the end of the day.

in (or about) the eleventh hour, in the last minute, in the nick of time, late but still not too late


vgn

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of vad gör ni (“what are you (pl.) doing? what’s up?”).


vad som komma skall

Du måste vänta och se vad som komma skall.


än är inte Polen förlorat

Calque of Polish jeszcze Polska nie zginęła (“Poland is not lost yet”), a famous line from the Polish national anthem. Cognate to German noch ist Polen nicht verloren.

calque

hope springs eternal
hope springs eternal

(idiomatic) all isn’t lost; hope springs eternal

Poland Is Not Yet Lost
Polish national anthem


något i hästväg

[nóːɡɔ́t iː hɛ́stvǽːɡ]

From något (“something”) + i (“in”) + hästväg (“"horse-way"”), as in something like (towards) a horse.

af

Vår nyårsfest blev något i hästväg

Our New Year's party really was something else ("became something in horse-way")

(idiomatic) something extraordinary, something that makes an unusually strong impression (for example by being large or powerful)


head

den som väntar på något gott, väntar aldrig för länge

Literally, “the one who waits for something good, never waits too long”.

good things come to those who wait
good things come to those who wait

(idiomatic) good things come to those who wait


sånt är livet

Jag vann hundra spänn men råkade skrapa kontrollrutan, a ja, sånt är livet.

I won hundred bucks but somehow I forgot that you can’t scratch the control tile, oh well, that’s life.


o.l.

Abbreviation of och liknande (“and other similar items, terms”).


om gud vill och byxorna håller

[ɔm ɡʉ̟ːd vɪl ɔ(k)ˈbʏk͡sʊɳa ˈhɔlːɛr]

Literally, "If God wants and the pants don't rip".

(humoristically) expresses the speaker’s wish for a given future event to occur.


vsg

(text messaging, Internet slang) Abbreviation of varsågod.


på edra platser, färdiga, gå

på era platser, färdiga, gå
på era platser, färdiga, gå#Swedish

(sports) Alternative form of på era platser, färdiga, gå.


på era platser, färdiga, gå

on your marks, get set, go
on your mark, get set, go


nu är det kokta fläsket stekt

Literally ”now the boiled pork is fried”.

(colloquial) things are looking really bad; the goose is cooked


öga för öga, tand för tand

Literally, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth”. Reference to Exodus 21:24.

eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

(idiomatic) eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth


öga för öga

Literally, “Eye for eye”. Reference to Exodus 21:24.


intresseklubben antecknar

From intresseklubb (“association of interest”) + anteckna (“make a note”), literally "The association of interest is making a note."
While used in smaller circles beforehand, according to linguistic Henrik Rosenkvist it reached its public breakthrough in the 1990s.

(idiomatic) a sarcastic answer or remark referring to the speaker's complete indifference towards something


ler och långhalm

Literally meaning "clay and long straw", using the shortened "ler" for "lera" (clay). The term comes from older times' manufacture of bricks when clay and straw were worked together, which would then be tightly joined together and difficult to distinguish.

(idiomatic) The expression means that two things (people, etc) are strongly related.


i sinom tid

Literally "in its [own] time". The word sinom is an old dative form of sin, the reflexive possessive pronoun. Compare gå man ur huse.

allt i sinom tid


jag tänker, alltså finns jag

I think, therefore I am
I think, therefore I am


lyte och men

(law) long-term suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of function


därom tvista de lärde

Literally, "thereof the learned dispute."

(idiomatic, often ironic) that is a point of contention among experts


bortom all ära och redlighet

Literally translates as "beyond all honor and honesty", the notion being that remote places were uncivilized.

beyond the black stump
beyond the black stump

beyond the black stump, in the middle of nowhere


folk och fä

folk (“people”) och (“and”) fä (“animal; livestock”)

(literally) people and livestock; humans and animals


långa fingrar

Han har långa fingrar.

Han har långa fingrar.


hålla grytan kokande

keep the pot boiling
keep the pot boiling

keep the pot boiling (continue with certain activities)


röra om i grytan

(idiomatic) to cause drastic change
to shake things up

(idiomatic) to cause drastic change
to stir the pot

(idiomatic) to cause drastic change
to rock the boat


var ska sleven vara om inte i grytan

Literally, "where should the ladle be if not in the cauldron".

(idiomatic) used to express that someone or something obviously belongs in a certain context


döden i grytan

Biblical (2 Kings 4). Literally, "death in the pot".

(colloquial, idiomatic) certain death, sure ruin


sesam, öppna dig

From French Sésame, ouvre-toi in the French translation of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves by Antoine Galland, originally from Arabic اِفْتَح يَا سِمْسِم (iftaḥ yā simsim).

der

اِفْتَح يَا سِمْسِم

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Antoine Galland


en katt bland hermelinerna

From the 1966 cuplé of the same name by Swedish theater director, writer and actor Karl Gerhard. Literally, "a cat among the ermines".

coinage

Att han var en katt bland hermelinerna vid hovet fick Bellman känna av på olika sätt.

1997, Marie Louise Andersén, Bo Gösta Hall, Olof Holm, Torkel Stålmarck, “Djurgården – Haga – Ulriksdal”, in Bellman var där. En vägvisare till Bellmansmiljöer, page 164:

That he was a cat among the ermines at the royal court, Bellman felt in different ways.

Det verkar som om gubben mådde bättre av att vara underdog. Jag har hela tiden sagt att han varit en katt bland hermelinerna.

2017 February 26, Magnus Sundholm, “En katt bland hermelinerna [A cat among the ermines]”, in Aftonbladet:

It seems like the old man felt better about being an underdog. I have always said that he was a cat among the ermines.

(possibly derogatory) About a person who is among people of a higher social class than themselves, or otherwise being in a group where they do not fit in.


obehöriga äga ej tillträde

Literally "unauthorized [persons] do not have access". äga here is in a mostly archaic present indicative plural form, which has largely been replaced by äger outside certain phrases like this one.


ända in i kaklet

Literally, "all the way into the tiling". Originally with reference to competitive swimmers and the tiling-clad walls of pools.

Laget kämpade ända in i kaklet, och kammade hem segern med en hårsmån

The team fought all the way to the end, and won by a hair's breadth

(idiomatic) all the way to the end (often in a positive sense)


som heter duga

Det var ett mål som hette duga!


upp med hakan

From up (“up”) + med (“with”) + hakan (“your chin”).


lagt kort ligger

you can't unring a bell
you can't unring a bell

Literally "played card lies" or "laid card lies," as in stays played, metaphorical for not being able to take back or undo something; you can't unring a bell


tusen sinom tusen

(idiomatic) incredibly many, innumerable


tack och hej leverpastej

From tack (“thank you”) + och (“and”) + hej (“goodbye”) + leverpastej (“liver pâté (a popular sandwich topping in Scandinavia)”). Chosen for the rhyme.


när det kommer till kritan

Literally "when it comes to the crayon". A reference to tabs written with chalk on a blackboard.

(dated, originally) When debts are due; when it's time to pay money.

when push comes to shove
when push comes to shove

(by extension) When it really matters; when the situation requires it; when push comes to shove.


gråt och tandagnisslan

weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth


prutat och klart

prutat (“haggled”) + och (“and”) + klart (“done”)

(advertising) Used to indicate that the indicated price is not negotiable/bargainable.


sjön suger

By surface analysis, sjön (“the sea”) + suger (“sucks”). See sugen (“craving”).

surf

Sjön suger! Vad lagar skeppskocken idag?

I'm hungry! What is the ship's cook making today?

(idiomatic) being at sea makes you hungry


det ante mig

Så han gjorde alltså inte det där viktiga vi bad honom om? Det ante mig.

So he didn't do that important thing we asked him to do? It figures.

it figures (upon learning something disappointing)


pang på rödbetan

By surface analysis, pang (“bang”) + på (“on”) + rödbetan (“the beetroot”).

Vi hade inte tid att förbereda oss, så det blev pang på rödbetan

We didn't have time to prepare, so we got straight down to it

(idiomatic) straight (down) to it, directly, without ado


en koloss på lerfötter

Originally from the Book of Daniel, 2:31-45. Compare French colosse aux pieds d’argile, Dutch kolos op lemen voeten, reus op lemen voeten, English feet of clay.

(idiomatic) something seemingly big and impressive but actually very vulnerable


inte sant

inte (“not”) + sant (“true”). Compare Norwegian Bokmål ikke sant, Danish ikke sandt and Norwegian Nynorsk ikkje sant. Same construction as Russian не правда ли? (ne pravda li?).

m+

не правда ли?

– Jag tror han begick mordet. – Men han var ju på andra sidan jorden, inte sant?
– I think he committed the murder. – But he was on the other side of the world, right?

– Du fick svart. – Det passar ju bäst så, inte sant?
– You got black. – That's the most fitting, isn't it?

from Antonius Block playing chess against Death in The Seventh Seal

Used to ask for agreement with (or confirmation of) a statement; isn't it?, right?, isn't that so?, etc.


som en skållad råtta

(simile) like a scalded dog (with great rapidity)


vad i helvete

Vad i helvete håller du på med?


somliga straffar Gud direkt

somliga (“some”) + straffar (“punishes”) + Gud (“God”) + direkt (“immediately”), "Some are punished immediately by God."

af

Han halkade omkull medan han skrattade åt sin kompis som precis vurpat. Somliga straffar Gud direkt.

He slipped and fell while laughing at his friend who had just slipped. Some are punished immediately by God.

(often humorous) Said when something bad happens to someone immediately or shortly after they have acted in a bad way.


tror gör man i kyrkan

"Believing is what you do in church" or "Believing is for church"

"Matchen går inte bra hittills, men jag tror ändå att vi kommer att vinna." \ "Du tror? Tror gör man i kyrkan, jag tycker du ska spela bättre istället."

"The match is not going very well so far, but I still believe we will win." \ "You believe? Believing is for church, I think you should just play better."

To assume or believe (a thing) is inferior to knowing (that same thing) for certain. Usually said in response to an uncertain or assumptive statement, to dismiss it as unhelpful.


skaru

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "ska du."


mot bättre vetande

Compare Dutch tegen beter weten in, German gegen besseres Wissen, Danish mod bedre vidende, Norwegian Bokmål mot bedre vitende.

against one's better knowledge; in spite of the fact that one knows better


vad fan

Vad fan gör du?

Vad fan vill du?

Vad fan?

(vulgar, colloquial) what the hell, what the fuck

Vad fan gör vi här?

(vulgar, colloquial) why the fuck, why the hell

Han gör vad fan han vill

(vulgar, colloquial) whatever the hell, whatever the fuck


skante

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "ska inte."


sug min kuk

From sug (“suck”) + min (“my”) + kuk (“dick”).


kyss mig i arslet

kyss (“kiss”) + mig (“me”) + i (“in”) + arslet (“my arse, my ass”)

(idiomatic, vulgar) kiss my arse, kiss my ass


sug min röv

From sug (“suck”) + min (“my”) + röv (“ass”).

(idiomatic, vulgar) fuck off, go to hell


fan och hans moster

fan (“the devil”) + och (“and”) + hans (“his”) + moster (“maternal aunt”)

Utflykten var ett helvete. Mygg och regn och snålblåst och punktering och fan och hans moster.

The trip was hell. Mosquitoes and rain and biting wind and a flat tire and the devil and his aunt.

(idiomatic, colloquial) Indicates items left out at the end of an enumeration (of unpleasant or tiring things).


helvetet brakar loss

helvetet (“the hell”) + brakar (“breaks (literally "crashes")”) + loss (“loose”)

Det var då helvetet brakade loss


m a o

Initialism of med andra ord (“in other words”).


göru

Va göru? (Vad gör du?)

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "gör du."


äru

Vem äru?

Äru inte trött? Du har inte sovit nåt.

Aren't you tired? You haven't slept any.

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of "är du" (are you, you are).


vad får det lov att vara

Roughly, "What is it allowed to be?" Might have originated as a way to avoid addressing with a title and possibly making a faux pas by using an improper one. See the article on du-reformen on Wikipedia.

(idiomatic) what will it be? (when taking an order at a restaurant or the like)


inga namn nämnda

inga (“no”) + namn (“names”) + nämnda (“mentioned”)

(idiomatic) no names named (without naming those involved (in something disreputable))


måttet är rågat

(idiomatic) I've had enough, enough is enough


så kan det gå när inte haspen är på

Literally, "That's what can happen when the hasp (small hook) isn't on (closed)."

(idiomatic, often humorous) that's what can happen when you're not careful


det var en gång

Det var en gång en liten fågel. Ja, en fågel. Han bodde på landet, och Roger hette han. Han ville gärna leka med sina vänner, med sina vänner, men det fick inte han. Men denna historia slutar sorgligt, för Roger blev skjuten, skjuten i magen av gamle jägar'n [jägaren] Pär. Han ville hem och äta, äta en fågel med lite potäter, men Roger hann iväg.

2007, Laser Inc (lyrics and music), “Det var en gång en fågel [Once upon a time, there was a bird]”:

Once upon a time, there was a little bird. Yes, a bird. He lived in the countryside, and Roger was his name. He wanted to play with his friends ["He wanted gladly to play with his friends," in the sense of, "He wanted, with keenness, to play with his friends" – the translation skips the gärna as it doesn't make much difference to the meaning], with his friends, but [that – to play with his friends] he didn't get to. But this story ends sadly, because Roger was shot, shot in the stomach by old hunter Pär ["den gamle jägaren Pär" matches "the old hunter Pär" – skipping "den" makes "jägaren Pär" sound lexicalized]. He wanted to go home and eat, eat a bird with some potatoes, but Roger got away [in time].

(idiomatic, at the beginning of fairy tales) once upon a time, there was ...


inte komma på fråga

Det kommer inte på fråga!


m.v.h.

med vänliga hälsningar
med vänliga hälsningar#Swedish

with kind regards; abbreviation of med vänliga hälsningar.


tack och bock

Nominalization of tacka och bocka, with an ad-hoc deveral bock from bocka sig.


very good, gummisnodd

From English very good + gummisnodd (“rubber band”) (for the rhyme, when pronounced with a Swedish accent).


det löser sig, sa han som sket i vasken

Literally, "It'll work out / dissolve, said the man who took a shit in the sink," punning on the dual meaning of lösa sig.

(humorous) Things will work out, or come to a satisfactory conclusion.


det tar sig, sa pyromanen

Literally, "it's picking up / catching on (as in growing, of a fire), said the pyromaniac," punning on the dual meaning of ta sig.

det tar sig, sa mordbrännaren
det tar sig, sa mordbrännaren#Swedish

(humorous) Alternative form of det tar sig, sa mordbrännaren


det tar sig, sa mordbrännaren

Literally, "it's picking up / catching on (as in growing, of a fire), said the arsonist," punning on the dual meaning of ta sig.

(humorous) things are picking up (getting good)


den som lever får se

Literally, "He (or "the one," more literally, referring to people in general) who lives gets to see." Compare French qui vivra verra.


och liknande

Similar to Norwegian Nynorsk og liknande and Danish og lignende


inte röra i ryggen

Literally, "to not touch in one's back." Perhaps a reversal of feeling something in one's stomach, as in be affected by something.

Deras kritik rör mig inte i ryggen

I couldn't care less about their criticism ("Their criticism doesn't touch me in my back")


inte röra någon i ryggen

Literally, "to not touch someone in their back." Perhaps a reversal of feeling something in one's stomach, as in be affected by something.

Deras kritik rör mig inte i ryggen

I couldn't care less about their criticism [Their criticism does not touch me in my back]

(idiomatic) to not bother someone at all


ett skepp kommer lastat

From the phrase repeated in the game, literally: "a ship comes loaded [with] ...".

(games) A chaining game where the first player say a word, then the next player has to say a word begging with the letter the previous word ended with.


ingen aning

Jag har ingen aning om hur det kan ha gått till

I have no idea how it might have happened

– Vad är det där för sorts djur? – (Jag har) ingen aning.
– What kind of animal is that? – (I have) no idea.


vad skådar mitt norra öga

Disputed. Literally, “what does my north eye behold?”.

lit

Vad skådar mitt norra öga? Nisse! Jag trodde du gått under med båten.

What do I spy with my eye? Nisse! I thought you had gone down with the boat.

(idiomatic) what do I spy with my eye? (upon seeing something remarkable)


vad fittan

Vad fittan glor du på?


missförstå mig rätt

Compound of missförstå + mig + rätt. Literally; "misunderstand me correctly".

Man skänkte ej ens en tanke åt Bismarck eller ett öga åt Gambättas organer; hvarken d:r Nyström eller Hans Forssell var i stånd att få oss att försaka kaffet, det var oss likgiltigt om Guiteau blir ansedd som vansinnig eller skräddaren Palm som klok; teaterbranden i Wien, geografiska kongressen i Venezia, förmälningshögtidligheterna, nihilisterna, Nordenskiölds polisplaner ja, ja, missförstå mig rätt! "Alexandras" och "Malmöhus"" undergång – allt detta intresserade oss ej hälften så mycket som att det skulle blifvit en riktig julknuta, så att vi kunde få försöka de nya skridskor, som vi fingo till julklapp i år eller rättare i fjol.

1882 January 28, “Lek och allvar [Play and seriousness]”, in Eslöfs Tidningar, page 3:

Not even a thought was given to Bismarck or an eye to Gambetta's organs; neither Dr. Nyström nor Hans Forssell was in a position to make us give up coffee, it was indifferent to us if Guiteau was considered insane or the tailor Palm as wise; the theater fire in Vienna, the geographical congress in Venice, the engagement ceremonies, the nihilists, Nordenskiöld's police plans yes, yes, don't get me wrong! The downfall of "Alexandra" and "Malmöhus" - all this did not interest us half as much as it would have been a real Christmas present [weather(?)], so that we could try the new skates, which we got for Christmas this year or rather last year.

Nej, missförstå mig rätt: då slår man lika lätt över i en annan ytterlighet – jag mördar honom för att jag hatar honom, nej, det går nog lika dåligt som att skriva kärleksdikter under ett samlag, bra dikter vill säga.

1950, Gösta Oswald, edited by Birgitta Holm, Skrifter II, published 2000, page 269:

No, misunderstand me not: one easily lapses into another extreme – I'd slay him for I despise him, nay, it fares likely as scribing love verses midst a coitus, good verses, I mean.

Missförstå mig rätt: det är inget fel på motorn. Egentligen. Det är en chamant motor. Egentligen. Men ingen motor står ut med att inte få åsamka husse och matte en räkning på 189:50 då och då.

1951, Barbro Alving, Slarvigt men mänskligt, pages 194–195:

Do not get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with the engine. For real. It's a charming engine. For real. But no engine tolerates not causing its owner a bill of 189.50 now and then.

Missförstå mig rätt. Det är såklart viktigt med uppföljning och kontroll. Men det får inte gå ut över kärnverksamheten – att ge vård till de sjuka och lära våra barn läsa, räkna och skriva.

2018 June 14, Mats Persson, “Bryt trenden: Minska välfärdsadministrationen [Break the trend: Reduce the welfare administration]”, in Dagens Samhälle (opinion piece):

Don't get me wrong. Follow-up and control are of course important. But it must not affect the core business – providing care to the sick and teaching our children to read, count and write.

(idiomatic) A phrase used when knowingly saying something (ambiguous or not) that can be interpreted as malicious by the receiver, but is only said with good intentions; don't get me wrong.


det kan hända

From det (“it”) + kan (“can”) + hända (“happen”). Compare Norwegian Nynorsk kan henda.

af

– Är du den där snubben från TV? – Det kan hända!
– Are you that guy from TV? – Might well be!

"That may be the case!", as a somewhat jocular affirmation

Det kan hända att vi behöver köpa en tårta till om det ska räcka till alla

It may be that we need to buy another cake for there to be enough for everyone

(idiomatic, when followed by "att") it may be that ..., it's possible that ...

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see det, kan, hända.


sug min balle

sug (“suck”) + min (“my”) + balle (“schlong, cock”)


ett och annat

ett (“one (thing)”) + och (“and”) + annat (“other things”)

Som bilmekaniker med trettio års erfarenhet vet han ett och annat om bilar

As an auto mechanic with thirty years of experience, he knows a thing or two about cars


det tål att tänkas på

Literally, "It (with)stands to be thought about." Compare "It bears thinking about."

det tål att tänka på
det tål att tänka på#Swedish

(idiomatic) Alternative form of det tål att tänka på


det tål att tänka på

Literally, "It (with)stands to think about." Compare "It bears thinking about."

(idiomatic) it is worth contemplating; it is worth thinking about, it is food for thought, etc.


låt höra

– Jag har en glad nyhet. – Låt höra!
– I have a piece of happy news. – Let's hear it!

Gjorde du det eller inte? Låt höra.

– Nisse har en plan. – Nisse, låt höra din plan!
– Nisse has a plan. – Nisse, let's hear your plan!

(idiomatic) let's hear (it), tell me/us (to encourage someone to reveal something)


grått nytt hår

From grått (“gray”) + nytt (“new”) + hår (“hair”) – an alteration of gott nytt år (“happy New Year”).


sista lorten stänger porten

sista (“the last”) + lorten (“dirt, filth”) + stänger (“closes”) + porten (“the door”)

Glöm inte att sista lorten stänger porten när ni lekt färdigt

Don't forget to close the door when you come in after you're done playing

the last person to enter (a house or the like) should close the door


kaka söker maka

Literally, "cookie seeks wife", which rhymes in Swedish.


till den milda grad

så till den milda grad
så till den milda grad#Swedish

(idiomatic) Alternative form of så till den milda grad


så till den milda grad

From så (“so”) + till (“to”) + den (“the”) + milda (“mild”) + grad (“degree”). Rarely as "så till den vilda (wild) degree." Perhaps a jocular reversal.

Det hade supits så till den milda grad att ingen vaknade i tid dagen efter och de missade tåget hem

There had been so much drinking ("It had been drunk (of hard liquor) so to the mild degree") that no one woke up in time the next day and they missed the train home

Det regnade så till den milda grad att vägen till huset blev översvämmad och vi inte tog oss ut

It rained so heavily ("so to the mild degree") that the road to the house was flooded and we couldn't get out

(idiomatic) to such an extent (implying a high degree)


mata inte trollet

mata (“feed”) + inte (“not”) + trollet (“the troll”)

don't feed the troll
don't feed the troll


vet du vad

vet (“know”) + du (“you”) + vad (“what”). Similar to Norwegian Nynorsk veit du kva.

(idiomatic) you know what (to get someone's attention before announcing something)


vet du

vet (“know”) + du (“you”). Similar to Norwegian Nynorsk veit du (veittu) and Norwegian Bokmål vet du (vettu).

(idiomatic) you know what, you know (to get someone's attention before announcing something)

Han orkar inte göra allt själv. Han är inte så ung längre, vet du.

He can't do [doesn't have the energy/strength to do] everything himself. He's not so young anymore, you know.

you know (to emphasize and indicate an expectation of common understanding)


låt gå

From låt (“let”) + gå (“go”). Compare "anything goes," "let something go / pass," and the like in English.

Egentligen måste ni bifoga en G7-blankett också, men låt gå för den här gången

Strictly speaking, you must include a G7 form as well, but I'll accept it this time [but let go for this time]

Hon brukar vara i tid och går igenom en skilsmässa, så låt gå för denna gång

She's usually on time and is going through a divorce, so I'll let it slide this time [so let go for this time]

Låt gå för att processen behöver ändras, men kasta inte ut barnet med badvattnet

Granted [let go for that], the process needs to change, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater

låt gå-mentalitet

Expresses (grudgingly) accepting or allowing something.


head

Gubben Bertil sa hunden Nicke kostar pengar.

Literally; "the old man Bertil said the dog Nicke costs money". Formed by the initial letters of each word, or sounding similar enough, corresponding to a country. In order: Guatemala, Belize, (El) Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Central American
Central American#English

A mnemonic for the names of the Central American countries from north to south.


laga ni så äta vi

lagar ni så äter vi
lagar ni så äter vi#Swedish

Dated spelling of lagar ni så äter vi (“Halland rivers south to north”).


vi ska äta, ni ska laga

Literally; "we shall eat, you shall cook". Formed by the initial letters of each river. In order: Viskan, Ätran, Nissan and Lagan.

A mnemonic for the four largest rivers in Halland, Sweden, that flow out into the sea Kattegatt, from north to south.


lagar ni så äter vi

Literally; "you cook, we eat". Formed by the initial letters of each river (except så (“so”)). In order: Lagan, Nissan, Ätran and Viskan.

A mnemonic for the four largest rivers in Halland, Sweden, that flow out into the sea Kattegatt, from south to north.


saken är biff

Literally, "the thing is beef steak". Unknown origin.
Some unproven hypothesis exists:
* From the abbreviation bif., from bifalles (“second, approve”). Thus meaning "the thing is approved" or "granted".
* Ultimately from klara skivan (literally “manage the [game/table] board”), whence skiva (“board; slice”) was turned into klara biffen (literally “manage the beef steak”), whence saken är biff (literally “the thing is beef steak”).

Nå men så slutar man röka. Saken är biff som man säger i yngre kretsar.

1944 September 10, Aftonbladet, page 21:

Well, quitting smoking is a done deal. As they say in younger circles, "the deal is in the bag."

[…] gör säkert en strålande insats: den saken är biff!

[…] is sure to make an outstanding contribution: that’s a sure thing!

Strax före 8 kommer en signal och jag svarsknackar med amatörens blyga ticktick. Tack och lov, saken är biff!

1956, Barbro Alving, Dagbok från Långholmen, page 68:

Just before 8, a signal comes in, and I respond with the shy tick-tick of an amateur. Thank goodness, the matter is settled!

2024 March 22, Ludvig Hällström, “Saken är biff – svenska stjärnkocken klar för ”kock-VM” i Lyon [It's a done deal – Swedish star chef ready for "Chef World Cup" in Lyon]”, in Café:

(idiomatic) Something being (successfully) finished, or can be considered as finished, or can be taken for granted.


lätt fånget, lätt förgånget

Jag vann en resa på lotteri, men sen slarvade jag bort biljetten. Sådant är ofta lätt fånget, lätt förgånget.

I won a trip at the raffle, but then I misplaced the ticket. Such things are often easy come, easy go.


Die dummen Schweden

die dummen Schweden
die dummen Schweden#Swedish

Alternative letter-case form of die dummen Schweden.


die dummen Schweden

Pseudo-Germanism, derived from die (“the”) + dummen (“dumb, stupid”) + Schweden (“Swedes”).
Debated origin:
* Possibly from the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) when Swedish soldiers from the countryside where accommodated in German cities, and were there easy targets for local tricksters, fraudsters and swindlers.
* Possibly derived from Hungarian buta svábok (“dumb Swabian”), in German die dummen Schwaben (“the dumb Swabians”), about a German-speaking minority living in southern Hungary from the 18th century to 20th century, who allegedly had limited proficiency in the local language. Later distorted in Swedish to die dummen Schweden.
Cognate with Danish die Dummen Dänen (literally “the dumb Danes”).

cog

Kroken är grof; men "die dummen Schweden" nappa villigt.

1865 June 19, “Lotterihumbug [Lottery Humbug]”, in Dagens Nyheter, number 140, page 2:

The hook is crude, but the foolish Swedes take the bait eagerly.

Den tyska polisen kommenterar vårt svenska i-lönesystem med det klassiska citatet " die dummen Schweden" – "de dumma svenskarna".

2019 May 23, Tina Gustafsson, “En rak "lönekarriär" frigör polisresurser! [A straightforward "salary career" frees up police resources!]”, in Blåljus:

The German police comment on our Swedish individual salary system with the classic quote "die dummen Schweden" – "the stupid Swedes".

Det råder skilda meningar huruvida uttrycket ”Die dummen Schweden” är en faktoid eller inte. Klart är i alla fall att vi gör vad vi kan för att ge fog för tillmälet.

2024 August 2, Tove Lifvendahl, “Transportstyrelsen har varit naiv igen [The Transport Agency has been naive again.]”, in Svenska Dagbladet (editorial):

There are differing opinions on whether the expression "Die dummen Schweden" is a factoid or not. What is clear, however, is that we are doing our best to justify the label.

An alleged German idiom that portray Swedes as gullible or naive.

Thirty Years' War
sv:die dummen Schweden


kan du tala långsamt

please speak more slowly
please speak more slowly