When you have already learned the basic of Norwegian language, you start noticing typical expressions. I’ve picked some of my favorites for you today.
Smi mens jernet er varmt. The translation is: bend the iron while it’s hot. The meaning is to seize the opportunity as it may never come back again. It suits well Norwegian culture and their relation to the weather. ex: Let’s go out and enjoy the Sunny day. Soon it may rain again. I use this one a lot.
Å spisse ørene : It means to sharpen your ears. I hear it a lot at lectures and seminars when you’re supposed to pay special attention to a topic. It took me a little while to get used to this one without actually picturing someone with pencil sharpener on his/her ears.
Å senke skuldrene : This one I should use more often. To lower your shoulders. It means to relax after some effort, hard work, tough times. Now you can lower your shoulders and give yourself credit for that hard work, for passing an exam, for having raised well your children.
Hjerte i halsen : My heart came up to my throat. When some imminent danger comes, when you think you’ve lost your child at the shopping center, or your house keys, when you nearly lost your plane.
Skjerp deg: Pull yourself together. Someone can say that when you haven’t behaved as you should. Or to someone winning or complaining about small unimportant things. Yesterday I heard the Norwegian authorities recognizing their are not so well prepared to handle many patients infected by Corona virus. They said they should pull themselves together and get the proper equipment.
Å dette ut: to fall out. It means your mind was somewhere else while you should be paying attention to a speech or conversation.
Tatt på fersken: Taken fresh. Caught in action. Caught by surprise while doing something you shouldn’t. ex: stealing, cheating at a game, cheating on your spouse, child tasting the cake before the birthday party.
Å ha det som plommen i egget. To enjoy life, like the egg yolk.
Å kose seg. Not an expression, but an actual verb. Anyway. I’d like to include it because it defines the Norwegian culture. I love it. It means to get cozy. It’s widely used in all kinds of places and situations. Example: I wanna grab a cup of coffee and get cozy. The baby gets cozy with his nappy. I’ll get cozy with my friends tomorrow evening.
Å henge med hodet. To see life negatively. To be sad.
Å ta noen på senga. Å bli tatt på senga. To be caught in bed. It means to be surprised by someone or something. Originally when a guest arrives too early and catches you still in bed, asleep.
Å ha ti tommeltotter. To have ten thumbs in the hands. It means you are clumsy, do something badly. It happens to me sometimes, specially when I’m in a hurry. Today, I managed to get my shoe shelf to fall apart.
Å trampe i klaveret – To do something stupid.
Å stå på egne bein – To stand on their own feet. Paddle his own canoe.
Another fun part of learning another language is to fit those expressions in sentences, in our everyday.
I Loveit!!! Well done Ju !
Very interesting !