Originally posted by: HejSvejsVa På Duolingo Arkiverat här
Idioms are not only phrases or figures of speech, but they are cultural references. There are over 25,000 idioms in the English language (According to Wikipedia). Just like accents or dialects in a language idioms are not only different cross culture but even cross region. Sort of like the informal slang of a language, idioms are used to become more comfortable and confident in a new language or place. It is also the most likely part of language to be misunderstood, not only because of metaphoric references but because these phrases do not translate well. This results in some funny and interesting figures of speech that I want to share with you all. Add any that I missed and enjoy!
First, some idioms that we can relate to, the meanings are the same:
Now you've done it!: Skita i det blåa skåpet (To shit in the blue locker)
Kill two birds with one stone: Slå två flugor i en smäll (hit two flies with one slap)
Kick the bucket: Trilla av pinn (To fall off the stick)
Easy as Pie: Lätt som en plätt (Easy as pancake)
To have luck on your side: Ha millimetrarna på sin sida (to have millimeters on your side)
To keep your fingers crossed: Hålla tummarna (to hold your thumbs)
Heard it through the Grapevine: Höra via djungeltrumman (Heard it though the jungle drum)
I'm giving you gold: Kasta pärlor för svin (To cast pearls before swine)
Written like chicken scratch: Kråkfötter (Crows feet)
To run for it: Lägga benen på ryggen (Lay the legs on the back)
All bark and no bite: Mycket snack och lite verkstad (Lots of talk and no workshop)
To go too far: Måla fan på väggen (To paint the devil on the wall)
To knock on wood: Ta i trä (Touch wood)
To turn a blind eye: Se genom fingrarna (See through the fingers)
To kill two birds with one stone: Slå två flugor i en smäll (To hit two flies with one slap)
All talk: Stor i orden (Big in the words)
Raining cats and dogs: Stå som spön i backen (Stand like whips in the ground)
Speak of the Devil: Tala om trollen (Speak of the trolls)
To smell a rat: Ana ugglor i mossen (To sense owls in the marsh)
Have a bone to pick: Ha en gås oplockad (Have a goose unplucked)
To know like the back of one's hand: Känna som sin egen ficka (Know like one's pocket)
The straw that broke the camels back: Droppen som fick bägaren att rinna över (The drip that caused the beaker to overflow)
When the cat's away the mice will play: När katten är borta dansar råttorna på bordet (When the ca's away dancing rats on the table)
Some more that I can't find any english equivalents for:
Saken är biff: "The thing is beef" = it been dealt with, its been taken care of
Klart som korvspad: "Clear as sausage stock" = obvious, very easily understood
Det är rena grekiskan: "It's pure greek" = I don't understand any of it, it makes no sense
Stava som en kråka: "Spell like a crow" = To make many spelling mistakes
Summan av kardemumman: "The sum of the cardamom" = The conclusion....
Glida in på en räkmacka: "To slide in on a shrimp sandwich" = Refers to someone who has it easy
Ingen ko på isen: "No cow on the ice" = No stress or danger
Ha en räv bakom örat: "To have a fox behind the ear" = To be cunning
Göra en höna av en fjäder: "To make a hen out of a feather" = To exaggerate
Lägga en pizza: "To lay down a pizza" = To vomit
Låtsas som att det regnar: "Pretend as if it is raining" = To act innocently, inconspicuously
Falla mellan två stolar: "To fall between two chairs" = When two authorities cannot cooperate, someone will be forgotten by both of them
Intresseklubben antecknar: "The interest club takes notes" = Sarcastic expression to demonstrate interest in what they perceive as unnecessary knowledge or overly detailed information
Credits to: SOMETHING SWEDISH for making this list. All I did was some small corrections, and adding some more idioms.
Please share you favorite idioms!