SvenskaVardagTa det lugnt.
Literal meaning Take it calm.
English Take it easy.
Du behöver inte stressa - ta det lugnt!
You don't need to stress - take it easy!
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Read Swedish expressions with meanings and examples in context.
Some content is not translated yet. Reference text: Svenska / English. Helper translations where available.
Det regnar katter och hundar.
Literal meaning It's raining cats and dogs.
English It's raining heavily.
Vi stannar inne, det regnar katter och hundar.
Let's stay inside, it's pouring down.
Lägg korten på bordet.
Literal meaning Put the cards on the table.
English Put your cards on the table / be honest.
Om vi ska lösa det här måste du lägga korten på bordet.
If we're going to solve this, you need to be open and honest.
Han gick på pumpen.
Literal meaning He went to the pump.
English He fell for it / got tricked.
Jag trodde det var sant, men jag gick på pumpen.
I thought it was true, but I fell for it.
Jag måste bita i det sura äpplet.
Literal meaning I have to bite into the sour apple.
English I have to bite the bullet / do something unpleasant.
Jag hatar att ringa tandläkaren, men jag måste bita i det sura äpplet.
I hate calling the dentist, but I have to bite the bullet.
Jag har inte en röd tråd i mitt arbete.
Literal meaning I don't have a red thread in my work.
English There's no coherence / I can't see the logic.
Ditt tal behöver en röd tråd så att åhörarna hänger med.
Your talk needs a clear thread so the audience can follow.
Han kastade in handduken.
Literal meaning He threw in the towel.
English He gave up.
Efter tre timmars försök kastade han in handduken.
After three hours of trying, he gave up.
Hon känns som en fisk i vattnet på festen.
Literal meaning She feels like a fish in water at the party.
English She feels right at home / in her element.
När han spelar piano är han som en fisk i vattnet.
When he plays piano, he's in his element.
Dra öronen åt sig.
Literal meaning Pull one's ears to oneself.
English Listen up / take notice.
Nu får ni dra öronen åt er, det här är viktigt!
Listen up everyone, this is important!
Det föll på rak mark.
Literal meaning It fell on flat ground.
English It fell on deaf ears / had no effect.
Hans argument föll tyvärr på rak mark.
Unfortunately, his arguments fell on deaf ears.
Kalla en spade för en spade.
Literal meaning Call a spade a spade.
English Call a spade a spade / speak plainly.
Jag föredrar att kalla en spade för en spade.
I prefer to call a spade a spade.
Han rider på en hög häst.
Literal meaning He's riding a high horse.
English He's being arrogant / snooty.
Efter att ha fått jobbet rider han på en hög häst.
Since getting the job, he's been riding high.
De slipar sina knivar.
Literal meaning They're sharpening their knives.
English They're plotting / getting ready for a fight.
I köket slipar alla sina knivar inför tävlingen.
In the kitchen, they're all sharpening their knives for the competition.
Det var vatten på hans kvarn.
Literal meaning It was water on his mill.
English It played right into his hands.
När motståndaren gjorde det misstaget var det vatten på hans kvarn.
When his opponent made that mistake, it played right into his hands.
Slå två flugor i en smäll.
Literal meaning Hit two flies in one blow.
English Achieve two things at once (kill two birds with one stone).
Jag handlar på vägen hem, då slår jag två flugor i en smäll.
I'll shop on the way home, so I kill two birds with one stone.
Det är ingen ko på isen.
Literal meaning There is no cow on the ice.
English There is no danger, so there is no need to worry.
Vi hinner i tid, det är ingen ko på isen.
We'll make it in time, there's no need to worry.
Ha is i magen.
Literal meaning Have ice in the stomach.
English Stay calm and do not act too hastily.
Ha is i magen och vänta på svaret.
Stay calm and wait for the answer.
Hålla tummarna.
Literal meaning Hold the thumbs.
English Keep your fingers crossed.
Jag håller tummarna för dig på provet.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you on the test.
Gå som på räls.
Literal meaning Go as on rails.
English Go smoothly, without problems.
Flytten gick som på räls.
The move went smoothly.
Gå i taket.
Literal meaning Go into the ceiling.
English Lose your temper (hit the roof).
Pappa gick i taket när han såg räkningen.
Dad hit the roof when he saw the bill.
Vara ute och cykla.
Literal meaning Be out cycling.
English Be completely wrong or confused.
Du är helt ute och cyklar, mötet är på torsdag.
You're completely off; the meeting is on Thursday.
Ta sig i kragen.
Literal meaning Take oneself by the collar.
English Pull yourself together and get on with it.
Nu måste jag ta mig i kragen och börja plugga.
Now I have to pull myself together and start studying.
Dra sitt strå till stacken.
Literal meaning Pull one's straw to the stack.
English Do your share; contribute to the common effort.
Alla i gruppen får dra sitt strå till stacken.
Everyone in the group has to do their share.
Ingen fara på taket.
Literal meaning No danger on the roof.
English No problem; there is nothing to worry about.
Ingen fara på taket, jag fixar det.
No problem, I'll sort it out.
Gå över ån efter vatten.
Literal meaning Cross the stream to fetch water.
English Make something harder than it needs to be.
Du behöver inte åka till stan för det, det är att gå över ån efter vatten.
You don't need to go into town for that; that's making it harder than it needs to be.
Lägga alla ägg i samma korg.
Literal meaning Put all the eggs in the same basket.
English Risk everything on one thing.
Satsa inte alla pengar på en aktie, lägg inte alla ägg i samma korg.
Don't put all your money into one share; don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Sitta i samma båt.
Literal meaning Sit in the same boat.
English Be in the same situation as others.
Vi sitter alla i samma båt när priserna stiger.
We're all in the same boat when prices rise.
Ha många järn i elden.
Literal meaning Have many irons in the fire.
English Be involved in many projects at once.
Hon har många järn i elden just nu.
She has many irons in the fire right now.
Det är kört.
Literal meaning It is driven.
English It is hopeless; there is no way (informal).
Nu är det kört, bussen har gått.
It's hopeless now, the bus has left.
Sätta p för något.
Literal meaning Put a p in front of something.
English Put a stop to something.
Läraren satte p för pratet.
The teacher put a stop to the chatter.
Tala är silver, tiga är guld.
Literal meaning Speaking is silver, silence is gold.
English Sometimes it is wiser to say nothing.
Jag sa inget, tala är silver, tiga är guld.
I said nothing; speaking is silver, silence is golden.
Det kostar skjortan.
Literal meaning It costs the shirt.
English It is very expensive.
Den där bilen kostar skjortan.
That car costs a fortune.