200 Norwegian idioms with meanings and examples

▶ å bestå med glans B1

Word for word: to pass with shine

Means: to pass a test or exam with excellent results

In English: to pass with flying colours

▶ Sara besto norskprøven med glans og fikk B2 på alle delene.Sara passed the Norwegian test with flying colours and got B2 in every part.

▶ å bite i det sure eplet B1

Word for word: to bite into the sour apple

Means: to do something unpleasant that cannot be avoided

In English: to bite the bullet

▶ Jeg grudde meg til å ringe skattekontoret, men til slutt bet jeg i det sure eplet.I dreaded calling the tax office, but in the end I bit the bullet.

▶ å bite tennene sammen A2

Word for word: to bite the teeth together

Means: to endure something hard without complaining

In English: to grit one’s teeth

▶ Det var tungt å jobbe på fiskefabrikken den første vinteren, men Ali bet tennene sammen.Working at the fish factory the first winter was hard, but Ali gritted his teeth.

▶ å blåse en lang marsj i C1

Word for word: to blow a long march into

Means: not to care about something at all

In English: not to give a damn

▶ Naboen blåser en lang marsj i reglene om stille tid etter klokka elleve.The neighbour couldn’t care less about the quiet hours after eleven o’clock.

▶ å bli lang i ansiktet B2

Word for word: to become long in the face

Means: to look visibly disappointed

In English: to pull a long face

▶ Barna ble lange i ansiktet da de hørte at turen til Tusenfryd var avlyst.The children pulled long faces when they heard that the trip to Tusenfryd was cancelled.

▶ å bli tatt med skjegget i postkassa B2

Word for word: to be caught with the beard in the letterbox

Means: to be caught in an embarrassing situation

In English: to be caught red-handed

▶ Politikeren ble tatt med skjegget i postkassa da det kom fram at han hadde jukset med reiseregningene.The politician was caught red-handed when it came out that he had cheated on his travel expenses.

▶ å bli varm i trøya C1

Word for word: to become warm in the jersey

Means: to get used to a new job or role and feel at home in it

In English: to find one’s feet

▶ Det tok et halvt år før Ali ble varm i trøya som teamleder.It took half a year before Ali found his feet as team leader.

▶ å bryte isen A2

Word for word: to break the ice

Means: to make people who don’t know each other feel more relaxed

In English: to break the ice

▶ Læreren brøt isen med en morsom lek den første dagen på norskkurset.The teacher broke the ice with a fun game on the first day of the Norwegian course.

▶ å dra lasset B2

Word for word: to pull the load

Means: to do most of the work

In English: to do the heavy lifting

▶ I gruppeoppgaven var det Jonas som dro lasset, mens de andre så på.In the group assignment, it was Jonas who did the heavy lifting while the others watched.

▶ å få bakoversveis B2

Word for word: to get a slicked-back hairdo

Means: to be completely astonished

In English: to be blown away

▶ Vi fikk bakoversveis da vi så strømregningen for januar.We were blown away when we saw the electricity bill for January.

▶ å få blod på tann B2

Word for word: to get blood on tooth

Means: to want more after a first success

In English: to get a taste for it

▶ Etter at hun vant det lokale løpet, fikk hun blod på tann og meldte seg på maraton.After she won the local race, she got a taste for it and signed up for a marathon.

▶ å få en fot innenfor B1

Word for word: to get a foot inside

Means: to get a first chance to enter a workplace or organisation

In English: to get a foot in the door

▶ Sommerjobben på sykehuset ga henne en fot innenfor, og nå har hun fast stilling.The summer job at the hospital got her a foot in the door, and now she has a permanent position.

▶ å få endene til å møtes B1

Word for word: to get the ends to meet

Means: to manage financially on what you earn

In English: to make ends meet

▶ Med én inntekt og to barn er det vanskelig å få endene til å møtes.With one income and two children, it is hard to make ends meet.

▶ å få fnatt B2

Word for word: to get scabies

Means: to get very irritated or fed up

In English: to drive someone up the wall

▶ Jeg får fnatt av naboen som borer i veggen hver søndag morgen.The neighbour who drills into the wall every Sunday morning drives me up the wall.

▶ å få hetta B2

Word for word: to get the hood

Means: to panic and be unable to think clearly

In English: to freak out

▶ Jeg fikk helt hetta da jeg så hvor mange skjemaer jeg måtte fylle ut hos NAV.I totally freaked out when I saw how many forms I had to fill in at NAV.

▶ å få i både pose og sekk B2

Word for word: to get in both bag and sack

Means: to get the benefits of two things that normally exclude each other

In English: to have your cake and eat it

▶ Du kan ikke få i både pose og sekk. Enten tar du jobben i Oslo, eller så blir du i Ålesund.You can’t have your cake and eat it. Either you take the job in Oslo, or you stay in Ålesund.

▶ å få kalde føtter B1

Word for word: to get cold feet

Means: to lose courage at the last moment

In English: to get cold feet

▶ Lars fikk kalde føtter og trakk seg fra hyttekjøpet dagen før kontrakten skulle signeres.Lars got cold feet and backed out of buying the cabin the day before the contract was to be signed.

▶ å få klump i halsen B1

Word for word: to get a lump in the throat

Means: to be so moved that you almost cry

In English: to have a lump in one’s throat

▶ Jeg fikk klump i halsen da bestefar holdt tale i bryllupet vårt.I got a lump in my throat when Grandpa gave a speech at our wedding.

▶ å få sparken A2

Word for word: to get the kick

Means: to be fired from one’s job

In English: to get the sack

▶ Han fikk sparken etter å ha kommet for sent på jobb mange ganger.He got the sack after turning up late for work many times.

▶ å få valuta for pengene B1

Word for word: to get currency for the money

Means: to get good value for what you paid

In English: to get your money’s worth

▶ Hytta var ikke billig å leie, men vi fikk virkelig valuta for pengene.The cabin wasn’t cheap to rent, but we really got our money’s worth.

▶ å få vann på mølla C1

Word for word: to get water on the mill

Means: to get support for what you already believe

In English: to be grist to the mill

▶ Kritikerne fikk vann på mølla da de nye tallene kom.The critics got grist to their mill when the new figures came out.

▶ å feie noe under teppet B1

Word for word: to sweep something under the carpet

Means: to hide a problem instead of solving it

In English: to sweep something under the rug

▶ Kommunen prøvde å feie klagene fra foreldrene under teppet.The municipality tried to sweep the parents’ complaints under the rug.

▶ å gå av med seieren B2

Word for word: to go off with the victory

Means: to win

In English: to carry the day

▶ Til slutt var det Ingrid som gikk av med seieren i skirennet.In the end it was Ingrid who carried the day in the ski race.

▶ å gå bak ryggen på noen B1

Word for word: to go behind the back of someone

Means: to act secretly and dishonestly against someone

In English: to go behind someone’s back

▶ Hun følte seg sviktet da hun fant ut at kollegaen hadde gått bak ryggen på henne til sjefen.She felt betrayed when she found out that her colleague had gone behind her back to the boss.

▶ å gå fløyten C1

Word for word: to go the flute

Means: to be lost or ruined

In English: to go up in smoke

▶ Hele sparepengene hans gikk fløyten da kryptobørsen gikk konkurs.All his savings went up in smoke when the crypto exchange went bankrupt.

▶ å gå fra konseptene C1

Word for word: to go from the drafts

Means: to lose one’s composure and be unable to think clearly

In English: to lose it

▶ Han gikk helt fra konseptene da han fikk vite at bilen hans var tauet bort.He completely lost it when he found out his car had been towed away.

▶ å gå i vasken B1

Word for word: to go in the sink

Means: to fail or come to nothing

In English: to go down the drain

▶ Planene om grillfest gikk i vasken på grunn av regnet.The barbecue plans went down the drain because of the rain.

▶ å gå noen på nervene A2

Word for word: to go someone on the nerves

Means: to annoy someone a lot

In English: to get on someone’s nerves

▶ Den høye musikken fra festen i etasjen over går meg på nervene.The loud music from the party upstairs is getting on my nerves.

▶ å gå over bekken etter vann C1

Word for word: to go over the brook for water

Means: to look far away for something that is close at hand

In English: to go round the houses

▶ Bedriften rekrutterte fra utlandet, men det var å gå over bekken etter vann. Flere ledige sykepleiere bodde i kommunen.The company recruited from abroad, but that was going round the houses. Several unemployed nurses lived in the municipality.

▶ å gå på en smell B2

Word for word: to go on a bang

Means: to suffer an unexpected loss or defeat

In English: to come a cropper

▶ Selskapet gikk på en smell da det satset alt på det amerikanske markedet.The company came a cropper when it bet everything on the American market.

▶ å gå på trynet B1

Word for word: to go on the snout

Means: to fail badly

In English: to fall flat on one’s face

▶ Det nye kjøpesenteret gikk på trynet etter bare to år.The new shopping centre fell flat on its face after only two years.

▶ å gå rundt grøten B1

Word for word: to walk around the porridge

Means: to talk around a subject without getting to the point

In English: to beat about the bush

▶ Slutt å gå rundt grøten og si hva du egentlig vil!Stop beating about the bush and say what you really want!

▶ å gå som hånd i hanske B1

Word for word: to go like hand in glove

Means: to fit together perfectly or work without any problems

In English: to fit like a glove

▶ Samarbeidet mellom barnehagen og foreldrene gikk som hånd i hanske.The cooperation between the kindergarten and the parents worked like a dream.

▶ å gå som smurt B1

Word for word: to go as if greased

Means: to go smoothly and easily

In English: to go like clockwork

▶ Flyttingen gikk som smurt takket være gode venner med varebil.The move went like clockwork thanks to good friends with a van.

▶ å gå som varmt hvetebrød B1

Word for word: to go like warm wheat bread

Means: to sell very quickly

In English: to sell like hot cakes

▶ Billettene til konserten i Spektrum gikk som varmt hvetebrød.The tickets for the concert at Spektrum sold like hot cakes.

▶ å gi jernet B2

Word for word: to give the iron

Means: to give it everything you have

In English: to give it all one’s got

▶ På siste etappe ga Ingrid jernet og tok igjen to løpere.On the last leg, Ingrid gave it everything she had and caught up with two runners.

▶ å gjøre en mygg til en elefant B1

Word for word: to make a mosquito into an elephant

Means: to make a small problem much bigger than it is

In English: to make a mountain out of a molehill

▶ Det var bare en liten ripe i bilen. Ikke gjør en mygg til en elefant!It was only a small scratch on the car. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill!

▶ å ha bein i nesa B2

Word for word: to have bone in the nose

Means: to be strong-willed and assertive

In English: to have backbone

▶ Den nye rektoren har bein i nesa og tør å si nei til kommunen.The new head teacher has backbone and dares to say no to the municipality.

▶ å ha beina på jorda B1

Word for word: to have the legs on the ground

Means: to be realistic and sensible

In English: to have one’s feet on the ground

▶ Selv om hun ble kjent over natta, har hun fortsatt beina på jorda.Even though she became famous overnight, she still has her feet on the ground.

▶ å ha det på tunga B1

Word for word: to have it on the tongue

Means: to almost remember a word or name

In English: to have it on the tip of one’s tongue

▶ Hva heter den skuespilleren igjen? Jeg har det på tunga!What’s that actor called again? It’s on the tip of my tongue!

▶ å ha det som plommen i egget B2

Word for word: to have it like the yolk in the egg

Means: to be very comfortable and well off

In English: as snug as a bug in a rug

▶ Katten vår har det som plommen i egget foran peisen.Our cat is as snug as a bug in a rug in front of the fireplace.

▶ å ha en finger med i spillet B2

Word for word: to have a finger along in the game

Means: to be involved in something, often secretly

In English: to have a hand in something

▶ Politiet tror at naboen hadde en finger med i spillet da sykkelen forsvant.The police think the neighbour had a hand in it when the bike disappeared.

▶ å ha en høne å plukke med noen B2

Word for word: to have a hen to pluck with someone

Means: to have an unresolved issue or complaint with someone

In English: to have a bone to pick with someone

▶ Jeg har en høne å plukke med utleieren om depositumet.I have a bone to pick with the landlord about the deposit.

▶ å ha et horn i siden til noen C1

Word for word: to have a horn in the side to someone

Means: to bear a grudge against someone

In English: to have it in for someone

▶ Etter striden om hekken har naboen hatt et horn i siden til oss i mange år.Since the quarrel over the hedge, the neighbour has had it in for us for many years.

▶ å ha hjertet på rette sted B1

Word for word: to have the heart in the right place

Means: to be a kind and caring person

In English: to have one’s heart in the right place

▶ Bussjåføren kan virke streng, men han har hjertet på rette sted og venter alltid på de eldre passasjerene.The bus driver may seem strict, but he has his heart in the right place and always waits for elderly passengers.

▶ å ha is i magen B1

Word for word: to have ice in the stomach

Means: to stay calm and think clearly under pressure

In English: to have nerves of steel

▶ Sjåføren hadde is i magen og fikk stoppet bussen trygt på det glatte føret.The driver kept his cool and managed to stop the bus safely on the slippery road.

▶ å ha mange baller i lufta B1

Word for word: to have many balls in the air

Means: to be busy with many tasks at the same time

In English: to have a lot of balls in the air

▶ Som prosjektleder har Silje mange baller i lufta og må prioritere hardt.As project manager, Silje has a lot of balls in the air and has to prioritise ruthlessly.

▶ å ha mange jern i ilden C1

Word for word: to have many irons in the fire

Means: to have many projects or opportunities going at once

In English: to have many irons in the fire

▶ Gründeren har mange jern i ilden og driver både en kafé, et bakeri og en matbil i Bodø.The entrepreneur has many irons in the fire and runs a café, a bakery and a food truck in Bodø.

▶ å ha ordet i sin makt C1

Word for word: to have the word in one’s power

Means: to be very good at expressing oneself

In English: to have a way with words

▶ Hun har ordet i sin makt og vinner nesten alle debatter på skolen.She has a way with words and wins almost every debate at school.

▶ å ha øyne i nakken B1

Word for word: to have eyes in the neck

Means: to notice everything that happens around you

In English: to have eyes in the back of one’s head

▶ Barnehagelærere må ha øyne i nakken når tjue barn leker ute samtidig.Kindergarten teachers need eyes in the back of their heads when twenty children play outside at once.

▶ å ha ryggen fri C1

Word for word: to have the back free

Means: to be protected against criticism or blame

In English: to cover one’s back

▶ Få avtalen skriftlig, så har du ryggen fri hvis det oppstår uenighet.Get the agreement in writing, then you have your back covered if a disagreement arises.

▶ å ha sommerfugler i magen A2

Word for word: to have butterflies in the stomach

Means: to feel excited and a little nervous

In English: to have butterflies in one’s stomach

▶ Jeg har sommerfugler i magen før den første arbeidsdagen min i barnehagen.I have butterflies in my stomach before my first day at work in the kindergarten.

▶ å ha tommelen midt i handa B1

Word for word: to have the thumb in the middle of the hand

Means: to be clumsy and bad at practical work

In English: to be all thumbs

▶ Jeg har tommelen midt i handa, så jeg ber naboen om hjelp når noe skal skrus sammen.I’m all thumbs, so I ask my neighbour for help when something needs assembling.

▶ å ha vind i seilene B2

Word for word: to have wind in the sails

Means: to be doing well and having success

In English: to have the wind at one’s back

▶ Etter den gode valgkampen har partiet vind i seilene.After the good election campaign, the party has the wind at its back.

▶ å holde en lav profil B1

Word for word: to hold a low profile

Means: to avoid attention and stay in the background

In English: to keep a low profile

▶ Den første uka på den nye jobben holdt jeg en lav profil og lyttet mest.During my first week at the new job, I kept a low profile and mostly listened.

▶ å holde hodet kaldt B1

Word for word: to keep the head cold

Means: to think clearly and not panic in a difficult situation

In English: to keep a cool head

▶ Da brannalarmen gikk, holdt læreren hodet kaldt og fikk alle barna trygt ut.When the fire alarm went off, the teacher kept a cool head and got all the children out safely.

▶ å holde hodet over vannet B2

Word for word: to hold the head above the water

Means: to barely manage, especially financially

In English: to keep one’s head above water

▶ Kafeen klarte så vidt å holde hodet over vannet gjennom pandemien.The café barely managed to keep its head above water during the pandemic.

▶ å holde munn A2

Word for word: to hold mouth

Means: to keep quiet, also to keep a secret

In English: to keep one’s mouth shut

▶ Kan du holde munn om overraskelsesfesten til lørdag?Can you keep your mouth shut about the surprise party until Saturday?

▶ å holde ord A2

Word for word: to hold word

Means: to do what you have promised

In English: to keep one’s word

▶ Han lovet å hjelpe oss med flyttingen, og han holdt ord.He promised to help us with the move, and he kept his word.

▶ å holde tunga rett i munnen B1

Word for word: to hold the tongue straight in the mouth

Means: to concentrate hard to get something right

In English: to keep your wits about you

▶ Man må holde tunga rett i munnen når man rygger med tilhenger.You have to keep your wits about you when you reverse with a trailer.

▶ å ikke ha peiling A2

Word for word: not to have a bearing

Means: to know nothing at all about something

In English: not to have a clue

▶ Jeg har ikke peiling på hvordan man skifter dekk på bilen.I don’t have a clue how to change a tyre on the car.

▶ å ikke løfte en finger A2

Word for word: not to lift a finger

Means: to do nothing at all to help

In English: not to lift a finger

▶ Samboeren min løftet ikke en finger da vi vasket leiligheten før utflytting.My partner didn’t lift a finger when we cleaned the flat before moving out.

▶ å kaste blår i øynene på noen C1

Word for word: to throw tow in the eyes of someone

Means: to deceive or mislead someone

In English: to pull the wool over someone’s eyes

▶ Firmaet kastet blår i øynene på kundene med falske miljøløfter.The company pulled the wool over its customers’ eyes with false green promises.

▶ å kaste inn håndkleet B1

Word for word: to throw in the towel

Means: to give up

In English: to throw in the towel

▶ Etter tre mislykkede forsøk på førerprøven var Erik nær ved å kaste inn håndkleet.After three failed attempts at the driving test, Erik was close to throwing in the towel.

▶ å kaste penger ut av vinduet A2

Word for word: to throw money out of the window

Means: to waste money

In English: to throw money down the drain

▶ Å betale for et treningssenter du aldri bruker, er å kaste penger ut av vinduet.Paying for a gym you never use is throwing money down the drain.

▶ å kaste perler for svin B2

Word for word: to throw pearls before swine

Means: to offer something valuable to people who cannot appreciate it

In English: to cast pearls before swine

▶ Å servere dyr champagne til gjester som foretrekker brus, er å kaste perler for svin.Serving expensive champagne to guests who prefer fizzy drinks is casting pearls before swine.

▶ å kjenne noen ut og inn B1

Word for word: to know someone out and in

Means: to know someone or something extremely well

In English: to know someone inside out

▶ Vi har vært bestevenner siden barneskolen, så jeg kjenner Sofie ut og inn.We have been best friends since primary school, so I know Sofie inside out.

▶ å kjøpe katta i sekken B2

Word for word: to buy the cat in the sack

Means: to buy something without knowing what you really get

In English: to buy a pig in a poke

▶ Ta en prøvetur før du kjøper bruktbil, ellers kan du fort kjøpe katta i sekken.Take a test drive before you buy a used car, or you may end up buying a pig in a poke.

▶ å klø seg i hodet A2

Word for word: to scratch oneself in the head

Means: to be puzzled and not understand something

In English: to scratch one’s head

▶ Mange klør seg i hodet når de ser den norske skattemeldingen for første gang.Many people scratch their heads when they see the Norwegian tax return for the first time.

▶ å koke suppe på en spiker C1

Word for word: to boil soup on a nail

Means: to make a lot out of very little

▶ Artikkelen var lang, men journalisten kokte suppe på en spiker.The article was long, but the journalist had made a lot out of very little.

▶ å komme godt overens A2

Word for word: to come well into agreement

Means: to get along well with someone

▶ Barna kommer godt overens med den nye læreren.The children get along well with the new teacher.

▶ å komme som julekvelden på kjerringa C1

Word for word: to come like Christmas Eve on the old woman

Means: to come as a surprise although it was entirely predictable

▶ Eksamen kom som julekvelden på kjerringa for studentene som ikke hadde sjekket datoen.The exam came as a complete surprise to the students who had not checked the date.

▶ å komme til kort B2

Word for word: to come to short

Means: to fall short or fail

In English: to fall short

▶ Det norske laget kom til kort mot Danmark i semifinalen.The Norwegian team fell short against Denmark in the semi-final.

▶ å koste flesk B2

Word for word: to cost pork fat

Means: to be very expensive

In English: to cost a fortune

▶ Den nye tunnelen gjennom fjellet har kostet flesk.The new tunnel through the mountain has cost a fortune.

▶ å legge kortene på bordet B1

Word for word: to lay the cards on the table

Means: to tell everything openly and honestly

In English: to put one’s cards on the table

▶ Under lønnsforhandlingene la han kortene på bordet og fortalte at han hadde fått et annet tilbud.During the salary negotiations he put his cards on the table and said he had received another offer.

▶ å legge lista høyt B1

Word for word: to lay the bar high

Means: to set high goals or standards

In English: to set the bar high

▶ Restauranten har lagt lista høyt, og alt blir laget fra bunnen av.The restaurant has set the bar high, and everything is made from scratch.

▶ å legge ord i munnen på noen B1

Word for word: to put words in the mouth of someone

Means: to claim that someone said something they did not say

In English: to put words in someone’s mouth

▶ Ikke legg ord i munnen på meg! Jeg sa aldri at maten var dårlig.Don’t put words in my mouth! I never said the food was bad.

▶ å legge seg flat B2

Word for word: to lay oneself flat

Means: to fully admit a mistake and apologise without excuses

In English: to eat humble pie

▶ Etter avsløringen la direktøren seg flat og beklaget overfor alle kundene.After the revelation, the director ate humble pie and apologised to all the customers.

▶ å legge seg i selen C1

Word for word: to lie down in the harness

Means: to make a great effort

In English: to put one’s back into it

▶ Hele dugnadsgjengen la seg i selen for å bli ferdig med gapahuken før det ble mørkt.The whole volunteer group put their backs into it to finish the shelter before dark.

▶ å lese mellom linjene B1

Word for word: to read between the lines

Means: to understand something that is not said directly

In English: to read between the lines

▶ Sjefen sa at det var «interessant», men hvis du leser mellom linjene, likte han ikke forslaget.The boss said it was «interesting», but if you read between the lines, he didn’t like the proposal.

▶ å leve over evne B2

Word for word: to live over ability

Means: to spend more than you can afford

In English: to live beyond one’s means

▶ Mange unge lever over evne og tar opp forbrukslån for å betale for ferier.Many young people live beyond their means and take out consumer loans to pay for holidays.

▶ å leve på luft og kjærlighet B2

Word for word: to live on air and love

Means: to live with very little money

In English: to live on love and fresh air

▶ Da vi var nyforelsket, levde vi på luft og kjærlighet i en liten hybel på Grünerløkka.When we had just fallen in love, we lived on love and fresh air in a tiny bedsit in Grünerløkka.

▶ å ligge på latsida B1

Word for word: to lie on the lazy side

Means: to be lazy and do nothing

In English: to twiddle one’s thumbs

▶ Nå har du ligget på latsida hele sommeren. På tide å søke jobb!You have been twiddling your thumbs all summer. Time to apply for a job!

▶ å miste hodet B1

Word for word: to lose the head

Means: to lose control and act without thinking

In English: to lose one’s head

▶ Han mistet hodet i køen og begynte å kjefte på kassereren.He lost his head in the queue and started shouting at the cashier.

▶ å ro noe i land B2

Word for word: to row something ashore

Means: to bring something difficult to a successful end

In English: to pull it off

▶ Etter lange forhandlinger klarte fagforeningen å ro avtalen i land.After long negotiations, the trade union managed to pull off the agreement.

▶ å se gjennom fingrene med noe B2

Word for word: to look through the fingers with something

Means: to deliberately overlook a mistake

In English: to turn a blind eye to something

▶ Læreren så gjennom fingrene med at eleven kom fem minutter for sent.The teacher turned a blind eye to the pupil arriving five minutes late.

▶ å se rødt B1

Word for word: to see red

Means: to become furious

In English: to see red

▶ Faren så rødt da han oppdaget at noen hadde rygget inn i bilen hans.Dad saw red when he discovered someone had backed into his car.

▶ å selge skinnet før bjørnen er skutt B2

Word for word: to sell the skin before the bear is shot

Means: to count on a gain before you actually have it

In English: don’t count your chickens before they hatch

▶ Ikke selg skinnet før bjørnen er skutt. Du har ikke fått jobben ennå.Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. You haven’t got the job yet.

▶ å sette bukken til å passe havresekken C1

Word for word: to set the billy goat to guard the oat sack

Means: to put someone in charge of something they will exploit

In English: to put the fox in charge of the henhouse

▶ Å la oljeselskapene kontrollere sine egne utslipp er å sette bukken til å passe havresekken.Letting the oil companies monitor their own emissions is putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.

▶ å sette ned foten B1

Word for word: to set down the foot

Means: to firmly say no or stop

In English: to put one’s foot down

▶ Da tenåringen ville ha fest med femti gjester, satte foreldrene ned foten.When the teenager wanted a party with fifty guests, the parents put their foot down.

▶ å sitte i samme båt A2

Word for word: to sit in the same boat

Means: to be in the same difficult situation as others

In English: to be in the same boat

▶ Alle i klassen synes norsk grammatikk er vanskelig, så vi sitter i samme båt.Everyone in the class finds Norwegian grammar difficult, so we are all in the same boat.

▶ å sitte midt i smørøyet B2

Word for word: to sit in the middle of the butter eye

Means: to be in the best possible place or situation

In English: to be sitting pretty

▶ Med leilighet rett ved Torgallmenningen i Bergen sitter vi midt i smørøyet.With a flat right by Torgallmenningen in Bergen, we are sitting pretty.

▶ å sitte på gjerdet C1

Word for word: to sit on the fence

Means: to wait and avoid taking sides

In English: to sit on the fence

▶ Flere av partiene i bystyret sitter fortsatt på gjerdet i bompengesaken.Several parties on the city council are still sitting on the fence on the toll road issue.

▶ å skjære alle over én kam B2

Word for word: to cut everyone over one comb

Means: to treat or judge everyone the same way

In English: to tar everyone with the same brush

▶ Det er urettferdig å skjære alle innvandrere over én kam.It is unfair to tar all immigrants with the same brush.

▶ å skjelve i buksene B1

Word for word: to tremble in the trousers

Means: to be very scared

In English: to shake in one’s boots

▶ Jeg skalv i buksene før den muntlige delen av Bergenstesten.I was shaking in my boots before the oral part of the Bergen test.

▶ å skyte gullfuglen B2

Word for word: to shoot the golden bird

Means: to strike it lucky and make a lot of money

In English: to hit the jackpot

▶ Bakeriet i Bergen skjøt gullfuglen da kanelbollene deres gikk viralt.The bakery in Bergen hit the jackpot when its cinnamon buns went viral.

▶ å skyte over mål C1

Word for word: to shoot over the goal

Means: to go too far and therefore fail

In English: to overshoot the mark

▶ Kampanjen skjøt over mål, og mange syntes reklamen var støtende.The campaign overshot the mark, and many people found the advert offensive.

▶ å slå av en prat A2

Word for word: to strike off a chat

Means: to have a short, friendly chat

In English: to shoot the breeze

▶ Jeg stoppet og slo av en prat med naboen ved postkassene.I stopped and shot the breeze with my neighbour by the letterboxes.

▶ å slå gjennom B1

Word for word: to strike through

Means: to become famous and successful

In English: to make it big

▶ Sangeren slo gjennom etter at hun vant Idol.The singer made it big after she won Idol.

▶ å slå i hjel tiden B1

Word for word: to strike the time dead

Means: to do something to pass the time while waiting

In English: to kill time

▶ Mens vi ventet på det forsinkede flyet, slo vi i hjel tiden med kortspill.While we waited for the delayed flight, we killed time playing cards.

▶ å slå to fluer i en smekk B1

Word for word: to hit two flies in one swat

Means: to achieve two things with one action

In English: to kill two birds with one stone

▶ Jeg sykler til jobben og slår to fluer i en smekk. Jeg trener og sparer bensinpenger.I cycle to work and kill two birds with one stone. I get exercise and save on petrol.

▶ å smi mens jernet er varmt B2

Word for word: to forge while the iron is hot

Means: to make use of a good opportunity while it lasts

In English: strike while the iron is hot

▶ Butikken hadde rekordsalg i desember, så eierne smidde mens jernet var varmt og åpnet en ny filial.The shop had record sales in December, so the owners struck while the iron was hot and opened a new branch.

▶ å smøre tykt på B2

Word for word: to spread it on thickly

Means: to exaggerate, especially with praise or descriptions

In English: to lay it on thick

▶ Eiendomsmegleren smurte tykt på da han beskrev den lille leiligheten som et drømmehjem.The estate agent laid it on thick when he described the small flat as a dream home.

▶ å snakke for døve ører B2

Word for word: to speak for deaf ears

Means: to say something that nobody listens to

In English: to fall on deaf ears

▶ Jeg har bedt sønnen min rydde rommet sitt hundre ganger, men jeg snakker for døve ører.I have asked my son to tidy his room a hundred times, but it falls on deaf ears.

▶ å snakke i munnen på hverandre B1

Word for word: to talk in the mouth of each other

Means: to talk at the same time so nobody can hear the others

In English: to talk over each other

▶ På familiemiddagen snakket alle i munnen på hverandre, så jeg forsto ingenting.At the family dinner everyone talked over each other, so I didn’t understand a thing.

▶ å snakke rett fra levra B2

Word for word: to speak straight from the liver

Means: to say frankly what you think

In English: not to mince one’s words

▶ Bestemor snakker alltid rett fra levra, også når det gjelder klærne mine.Grandma never minces her words, not even about my clothes.

▶ å snu på krona B1

Word for word: to turn the krone

Means: to be careful with money and spend as little as possible

In English: to count every penny

▶ Etter at strømprisen steg, må mange pensjonister snu på krona.Since electricity prices rose, many pensioners have to count every penny.

▶ å spille på lag A2

Word for word: to play on team

Means: to cooperate well with others

In English: to be a team player

▶ På jobben vår er det viktig å spille på lag med kollegene.At our workplace it is important to be a team player with your colleagues.

▶ å stå på A2

Word for word: to stand on

Means: to work hard and keep going

In English: to keep at it

▶ Hvis du står på med norsken hver dag, vil du merke stor fremgang.If you keep at your Norwegian every day, you will notice great progress.

▶ å stå på egne bein A2

Word for word: to stand on own legs

Means: to be independent, especially financially

In English: to stand on one’s own two feet

▶ Etter to år i Norge står Olena på egne bein med egen leilighet og fast jobb.After two years in Norway, Olena stands on her own two feet with her own flat and a permanent job.

▶ å stikke hodet i sanden B1

Word for word: to stick the head in the sand

Means: to refuse to face a problem

In English: to bury one’s head in the sand

▶ Du kan ikke stikke hodet i sanden. Regningene forsvinner ikke av seg selv.You can’t bury your head in the sand. The bills won’t disappear by themselves.

▶ å svelge kameler C1

Word for word: to swallow camels

Means: to accept things you are against in order to gain something else

In English: to swallow a bitter pill

▶ For å komme i regjering måtte partiet svelge flere kameler.To get into government, the party had to swallow several bitter pills.

▶ å ta beina på nakken B2

Word for word: to take the legs on the neck

Means: to run away as fast as possible

In English: to take to one’s heels

▶ Da vi så elgen komme mot oss, tok vi beina på nakken.When we saw the moose coming towards us, we took to our heels.

▶ å ta bladet fra munnen B2

Word for word: to take the leaf from the mouth

Means: to speak out clearly, even if it is uncomfortable

In English: to speak one’s mind

▶ Endelig tok en av foreldrene bladet fra munnen og sa at mobbingen måtte stoppe.Finally one of the parents spoke their mind and said the bullying had to stop.

▶ å ta brødet ut av munnen på noen C1

Word for word: to take the bread out of the mouth of someone

Means: to deprive someone of their livelihood

In English: to take the bread out of someone’s mouth

▶ Fiskerne mener at de nye kvotene tar brødet ut av munnen på dem.The fishermen believe the new quotas take the bread out of their mouths.

▶ å ta det på sparket B2

Word for word: to take it on the kick

Means: to do something without preparation, to improvise

In English: to play it by ear

▶ Vi hadde ikke planlagt noe til bursdagen, så vi tok det på sparket og dro på pizzarestaurant.We hadn’t planned anything for the birthday, so we played it by ear and went to a pizza restaurant.

▶ å ta grep B2

Word for word: to take grip

Means: to take concrete action to solve a problem

In English: to take matters in hand

▶ Regjeringen må ta grep for å få ned boligprisene.The government must take action to bring house prices down.

▶ å ta kaka B2

Word for word: to take the cake

Means: to be the most extreme or unbelievable of all

In English: to take the cake

▶ Mange kommer for sent, men å møte opp en time for sent til jobbintervju tar kaka.Many people turn up late, but arriving an hour late for a job interview takes the cake.

▶ å ta noe for god fisk C1

Word for word: to take something for good fish

Means: to accept or believe something without questioning it

In English: to take something at face value

▶ Mange tok nyheten for god fisk, men det viste seg at det var en spøk.Many people took the news at face value, but it turned out to be a joke.

▶ å ta noe med en klype salt B1

Word for word: to take something with a pinch of salt

Means: to be sceptical about something

In English: to take something with a pinch of salt

▶ Du bør ta reklamen for slankepillene med en klype salt.You should take the advert for the slimming pills with a pinch of salt.

▶ å ta noe med storm B2

Word for word: to take something with storm

Means: to become very successful quickly and win many people over

In English: to take something by storm

▶ Den unge rapperen fra Stovner tok Norge med storm i fjor.The young rapper from Stovner took Norway by storm last year.

▶ å ta seg en bolle A2

Word for word: to take oneself a bun

Means: to calm down and relax

In English: chill out

▶ Ta deg en bolle! Vi rekker bussen, den går ikke før om ti minutter.Chill out! We will make the bus, it doesn’t leave for another ten minutes.

▶ å ta seg sammen A2

Word for word: to take oneself together

Means: to pull yourself together

In English: to pull oneself together

▶ Nå må du ta deg sammen og begynne å lese til eksamen.Now you need to pull yourself together and start studying for the exam.

▶ å ta seg vann over hodet B1

Word for word: to take oneself water over the head

Means: to take on more than you can handle

In English: to bite off more than you can chew

▶ Med to jobber, norskkurs og tre små barn tok Ahmed seg vann over hodet.With two jobs, a Norwegian course and three small children, Ahmed bit off more than he could chew.

▶ å ta tiden til hjelp C1

Word for word: to take time to help

Means: to wait and let time solve the problem

In English: to wait and see

▶ Vi har ikke funnet en løsning ennå, så vi får ta tiden til hjelp.We haven’t found a solution yet, so we will have to wait and see.

▶ å ta tyren ved hornene B1

Word for word: to take the bull by the horns

Means: to tackle a difficult problem directly

In English: to take the bull by the horns

▶ Jeg tok tyren ved hornene og ba sjefen om lønnsforhøyelse.I took the bull by the horns and asked my boss for a pay rise.

▶ å ta vinden ut av seilene på noen B2

Word for word: to take the wind out of the sails of someone

Means: to weaken someone’s position, often by acting first

In English: to take the wind out of someone’s sails

▶ Ministeren tok vinden ut av seilene på opposisjonen ved å legge fram forslaget selv.The minister took the wind out of the opposition’s sails by presenting the proposal herself.

▶ å tjene penger som gress B1

Word for word: to earn money like grass

Means: to earn a lot of money fast

In English: to make money hand over fist

▶ Under oljeboomen tjente mange sveisere penger som gress.During the oil boom, many welders made money hand over fist.

▶ å tråkke i salaten C1

Word for word: to step in the salad

Means: to say or do something tactless or embarrassing

In English: to put one’s foot in it

▶ Jeg tråkket i salaten da jeg spurte kollegaen når hun skulle føde. Hun var ikke gravid.I put my foot in it when I asked my colleague when her baby was due. She wasn’t pregnant.

▶ å treffe spikeren på hodet B1

Word for word: to hit the nail on the head

Means: to describe something exactly right

In English: to hit the nail on the head

▶ Du traff spikeren på hodet da du sa at problemet er mangel på barnehageplasser.You hit the nail on the head when you said the problem is the lack of kindergarten places.

▶ å trekke i trådene B2

Word for word: to pull in the threads

Means: to control something secretly from behind the scenes

In English: to pull the strings

▶ Offisielt er det styret som bestemmer, men det er eieren som trekker i trådene.Officially the board decides, but it is the owner who pulls the strings.

▶ å trives som fisken i vannet A2

Word for word: to thrive like the fish in the water

Means: to feel completely at home and very happy

In English: to take to something like a duck to water

▶ Datteren vår trives som fisken i vannet i den nye barnehagen.Our daughter has taken to the new kindergarten like a duck to water.

▶ å være blakk som en kirkerotte B1

Word for word: to be broke as a church rat

Means: to have no money at all

In English: as poor as a church mouse

▶ Mot slutten av måneden er mange studenter blakke som kirkerotter.Towards the end of the month, many students are as poor as church mice.

▶ å være flue på veggen B2

Word for word: to be a fly on the wall

Means: to watch or listen secretly without being noticed

In English: to be a fly on the wall

▶ Jeg skulle gjerne vært flue på veggen da sjefen fortalte styret om underskuddet.I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when the boss told the board about the deficit.

▶ å være helt på jordet B1

Word for word: to be completely on the field

Means: to be completely confused or mistaken

In English: to be all over the place

▶ Jeg var helt på jordet i dag og tok på meg to forskjellige sko.I was all over the place today and put on two different shoes.

▶ å være i den sjuende himmel B1

Word for word: to be in the seventh heaven

Means: to be extremely happy

In English: to be in seventh heaven

▶ Mari var i den sjuende himmel da hun fikk vite at hun hadde bestått norskprøven.Mari was in seventh heaven when she found out she had passed the Norwegian test.

▶ å være midt i blinken B1

Word for word: to be in the middle of the target

Means: to be exactly right, just what is needed

In English: spot on

▶ Den varme jakka du ga meg, var midt i blinken til vinteren i Tromsø.The warm jacket you gave me was spot on for the winter in Tromsø.

▶ å være på bærtur B1

Word for word: to be on a berry-picking trip

Means: to be completely wrong or way off the mark

In English: to be way off the mark

▶ Da han sa at Bergen er hovedstaden i Norge, var han helt på bærtur.When he said Bergen is the capital of Norway, he was way off the mark.

▶ å være på bølgelengde med noen B1

Word for word: to be on wavelength with someone

Means: to understand each other well and think alike

In English: to be on the same wavelength

▶ Jeg var på bølgelengde med den nye kollegaen fra første dag.I was on the same wavelength as my new colleague from day one.

▶ å være på gråten A2

Word for word: to be on the crying

Means: to be close to tears

In English: to be on the verge of tears

▶ Gutten var på gråten da han mistet lua si på bussen.The boy was close to tears when he lost his hat on the bus.

▶ å være sent ute A2

Word for word: to be late out

Means: to be late or running out of time

In English: to be running late

▶ Vi er sent ute, så vi må ta taxi til flyplassen.We are running late, so we have to take a taxi to the airport.

▶ å være sin egen lykkes smed C1

Word for word: to be the smith of one’s own luck

Means: to shape one’s own future through one’s own choices

In English: every man is the architect of his own fortune

▶ Bestefar sa alltid at hver og en er sin egen lykkes smed.Grandpa always said that everyone is the architect of their own fortune.

▶ å være som hund og katt A2

Word for word: to be like dog and cat

Means: to argue all the time

In English: to fight like cat and dog

▶ Brødrene mine er som hund og katt, men de savner hverandre når de er fra hverandre.My brothers fight like cat and dog, but they miss each other when they are apart.

▶ å være ute og sykle B2

Word for word: to be out cycling

Means: to be badly mistaken and heading for trouble

In English: to be barking up the wrong tree

▶ Hvis du tror at du kan betale husleia med kredittkort hver måned, er du ute og sykler.If you think you can pay the rent by credit card every month, you are barking up the wrong tree.

▶ å være ute på tynn is B1

Word for word: to be out on thin ice

Means: to be in a risky or uncertain situation

In English: to be on thin ice

▶ Nå er du ute på tynn is. Du vet jo ikke hva som egentlig skjedde.Now you are on thin ice. You don’t actually know what happened.

▶ å vende kappen etter vinden C1

Word for word: to turn the cloak after the wind

Means: to change one’s opinion or side to whatever pays off or is popular

In English: to trim one’s sails to the wind

▶ Politikeren vendte kappen etter vinden så snart meningsmålingene endret seg.The politician trimmed his sails to the wind as soon as the opinion polls changed.

▶ bank i bordet A2

Word for word: knock on the table

Means: said to avoid bad luck after saying something positive

In English: touch wood

▶ Jeg har ikke vært syk én eneste dag i år, bank i bordet!I haven’t been ill a single day this year, touch wood!

▶ bedre sent enn aldri A2

Word for word: better late than never

Means: it is better to do something late than not at all

In English: better late than never

▶ Bestemor begynte på norskkurs som 70-åring. Bedre sent enn aldri!Grandma started a Norwegian course at 70. Better late than never!

▶ borte bra, men hjemme best A2

Word for word: away good, but home best

Means: travelling is nice, but home is best

In English: there’s no place like home

▶ Tre uker i Spania var herlig, men nå gleder jeg meg til egen seng. Borte bra, men hjemme best!Three weeks in Spain were lovely, but now I’m looking forward to my own bed. There’s no place like home!

▶ det er hipp som happ B2

Word for word: it is hip as hap

Means: it makes no difference, one is as good as the other

In English: six of one and half a dozen of the other

▶ Om vi tar toget eller bussen til Drammen, er det hipp som happ. Begge bruker like lang tid.Whether we take the train or the bus to Drammen, it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other. Both take the same time.

▶ det er ikke bare bare B1

Word for word: it is not just just

Means: it is not as easy as it looks

In English: easier said than done

▶ Å lære seg norsk mens man jobber fulltid, er ikke bare bare.Learning Norwegian while working full-time is easier said than done.

▶ det er ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær A2

Word for word: there is no bad weather, only bad clothes

Means: you can be outdoors in any weather if you dress properly

In English: there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes

▶ Barna i barnehagen er ute hver dag, for det er ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær.The kindergarten children are outside every day, because there is no bad weather, only the wrong clothes.

▶ det er ikke min kopp te A2

Word for word: it is not my cup of tea

Means: it is not something I like or am interested in

In English: it’s not my cup of tea

▶ Skrekkfilmer er ikke min kopp te, så jeg ser heller en komedie.Horror films aren’t my cup of tea, so I’d rather watch a comedy.

▶ det er ikke så nøye A2

Word for word: it is not so exact

Means: it doesn’t matter much

In English: no big deal

▶ Du kan komme klokka sju eller halv åtte, det er ikke så nøye.You can come at seven or half past seven, it’s no big deal.

▶ det er ingen ko på isen B2

Word for word: there is no cow on the ice

Means: there is no danger or reason to worry

In English: no sweat

▶ Toget er forsinket, men det er ingen ko på isen. Vi har god tid før flyet går.The train is delayed, but no sweat. We have plenty of time before the flight leaves.

▶ det er ugler i mosen B2

Word for word: there are owls in the moss

Means: something suspicious is going on

In English: something is fishy

▶ Barna var altfor stille på rommet sitt. Jeg skjønte at det var ugler i mosen.The children were far too quiet in their room. I realised something was fishy.

▶ det koster skjorta A2

Word for word: it costs the shirt

Means: it is very expensive

In English: it costs an arm and a leg

▶ Det koster skjorta å spise ute i Oslo.Eating out in Oslo costs an arm and a leg.

▶ det regner trollkjerringer B2

Word for word: it is raining troll hags

Means: it is raining very heavily

In English: it’s raining cats and dogs

▶ Det regnet trollkjerringer i Bergen hele helgen, så vi ble inne og spilte brettspill.It rained cats and dogs in Bergen all weekend, so we stayed in and played board games.

▶ det sitter langt inne B2

Word for word: it sits far inside

Means: it is very hard for someone to do or admit something

▶ Det satt langt inne for sjefen å innrømme at planen var feil.It was very hard for the boss to admit that the plan was wrong.

▶ dum som et brød B1

Word for word: stupid as a loaf of bread

Means: very stupid

In English: as thick as two short planks

▶ Jeg følte meg dum som et brød da jeg gikk på feil buss to ganger samme dag.I felt as thick as two short planks when I got on the wrong bus twice on the same day.

▶ egget vil lære høna å verpe C1

Word for word: the egg wants to teach the hen to lay

Means: an inexperienced person tries to teach someone more experienced

In English: don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs

▶ Praktikanten forklarte overlegen hvordan man tar blodprøve. Egget vil lære høna å verpe.The trainee explained to the consultant how to take a blood sample. Talk about teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.

▶ en gammel ringrev C1

Word for word: an old ring fox

Means: an experienced, cunning person who knows all the tricks

In English: an old fox

▶ Den gamle ringreven i forhandlingsutvalget lot seg ikke lure av motparten.The old fox on the negotiating committee was not fooled by the other side.

▶ én gang for alle A2

Word for word: one time for all

Means: definitively, so it never needs doing again

In English: once and for all

▶ Nå skal vi rydde i boden én gang for alle.Now we are going to clear out the storage room once and for all.

▶ en hard nøtt å knekke B1

Word for word: a hard nut to crack

Means: a difficult task or problem

In English: a tough nut to crack

▶ Norsk uttale er en hard nøtt å knekke for mange voksne innvandrere.Norwegian pronunciation is a tough nut to crack for many adult immigrants.

▶ en storm i et vannglass B1

Word for word: a storm in a water glass

Means: a lot of fuss about something unimportant

In English: a storm in a teacup

▶ Krangelen om parkeringsplassene i sameiet var bare en storm i et vannglass.The row over parking spaces in the housing association was just a storm in a teacup.

▶ en ulv i fåreklær B2

Word for word: a wolf in sheep’s clothes

Means: a person who seems kind but has bad intentions

In English: a wolf in sheep’s clothing

▶ Den hyggelige «rådgiveren» på telefonen var en ulv i fåreklær som ville ha bankkoden min.The friendly «adviser» on the phone was a wolf in sheep’s clothing who wanted my bank code.

▶ eneste hane i kurven B2

Word for word: the only rooster in the basket

Means: the only man among women

▶ På sykepleierkurset var Jonas eneste hane i kurven.On the nursing course, Jonas was the only man among the women.

▶ eplet faller ikke langt fra stammen B1

Word for word: the apple does not fall far from the trunk

Means: children are often like their parents

In English: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree

▶ Datteren til fotballtreneren spiller på landslaget. Eplet faller ikke langt fra stammen.The football coach’s daughter plays on the national team. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

▶ et svart får B1

Word for word: a black sheep

Means: a person who stands out negatively in a family or group

In English: the black sheep

▶ Onkel Per var familiens svarte får, men han var også den morsomste i alle selskaper.Uncle Per was the black sheep of the family, but he was also the funniest at every party.

▶ etter regn kommer sol A2

Word for word: after rain comes sun

Means: after hard times, better times will come

In English: every cloud has a silver lining

▶ Du strøk på førerprøven, men etter regn kommer sol. Neste gang går det bedre.You failed the driving test, but every cloud has a silver lining. It will go better next time.

▶ for en slikk og ingenting B2

Word for word: for a lick and nothing

Means: for very little money

In English: for a song

▶ Vi kjøpte sofaen på Finn for en slikk og ingenting.We bought the sofa on Finn for a song.

▶ før eller siden A2

Word for word: before or later

Means: at some point in the future

In English: sooner or later

▶ Før eller siden må du lære deg å kjøre bil på vinterføre.Sooner or later you will have to learn to drive on winter roads.

▶ frisk som en fisk A2

Word for word: healthy as a fish

Means: completely healthy and fit

In English: as fit as a fiddle

▶ Etter operasjonen er bestefar frisk som en fisk igjen.After the operation, Grandpa is as fit as a fiddle again.

▶ i det lange løp B1

Word for word: in the long run

Means: over a long period of time

In English: in the long run

▶ Elbil er dyrere å kjøpe, men billigere i det lange løp.An electric car is more expensive to buy, but cheaper in the long run.

▶ i grevens tid B2

Word for word: in the count’s time

Means: just in time, at the last possible moment

In English: in the nick of time

▶ Ambulansen kom i grevens tid.The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.

▶ i hui og hast B2

Word for word: in whoosh and haste

Means: in a great hurry

In English: in a mad rush

▶ Vi pakket kofferten i hui og hast og løp til toget.We packed the suitcase in a mad rush and ran for the train.

▶ i ny og ne B2

Word for word: at new moon and waning moon

Means: occasionally, not regularly

In English: every now and then

▶ Jeg tar bussen til jobben i ny og ne, men stort sett sykler jeg.I take the bus to work every now and then, but mostly I cycle.

▶ i siste liten A2

Word for word: in the last little (moment)

Means: at the very last moment

In English: in the nick of time

▶ Vi rakk ferja i siste liten.We caught the ferry in the nick of time.

▶ i strie strømmer B2

Word for word: in rough streams

Means: in large amounts, of rain or of people or things arriving

In English: in torrents

▶ Regnet høljet ned i strie strømmer da vi skulle sette opp teltet.The rain was pouring down in torrents when we were about to put up the tent.

▶ jo flere kokker, dess mer søl B2

Word for word: the more cooks, the more mess

Means: when too many people are involved, the result gets worse

In English: too many cooks spoil the broth

▶ Fem personer planla bryllupet, og det ble kaos. Jo flere kokker, dess mer søl.Five people planned the wedding, and it turned into chaos. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

▶ kjerringa mot strømmen C1

Word for word: the old woman against the current

Means: a person who always does the opposite of everyone else

In English: to swim against the tide

▶ Alle ville til Syden, men Nina var kjerringa mot strømmen og ferierte på Svalbard.Everyone wanted to go somewhere sunny, but Nina swam against the tide and spent her holiday on Svalbard.

▶ like som to dråper vann A2

Word for word: alike as two drops of water

Means: exactly alike

In English: like two peas in a pod

▶ Tvillingene til naboen er like som to dråper vann.The neighbour’s twins are like two peas in a pod.

▶ med hånden på hjertet B1

Word for word: with the hand on the heart

Means: completely honestly

In English: hand on heart

▶ Med hånden på hjertet, jeg har aldri sett den mobilen før.Hand on heart, I have never seen that mobile phone before.

▶ med hjertet i halsen B1

Word for word: with the heart in the throat

Means: very tense, nervous or afraid

In English: with one’s heart in one’s mouth

▶ Med hjertet i halsen ventet vi på svaret fra legen.With our hearts in our mouths, we waited for the doctor’s answer.

▶ med nød og neppe B2

Word for word: with need and hardly

Means: only just, with great difficulty

In English: by the skin of one’s teeth

▶ Vi rakk med nød og neppe det siste toget hjem fra Lillehammer.We caught the last train home from Lillehammer by the skin of our teeth.

▶ mye vann har rent i havet C1

Word for word: much water has run into the sea

Means: a lot of time has passed and much has changed

In English: a lot of water has flowed under the bridge

▶ Mye vann har rent i havet siden jeg kom til Norge med én koffert i 2005.A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since I came to Norway with one suitcase in 2005.

▶ når det regner på presten, så drypper det på klokkeren C1

Word for word: when it rains on the priest, it drips on the sexton

Means: when one person succeeds, those close to them also benefit

In English: a rising tide lifts all boats

▶ Da kokken fikk Michelin-stjerne, fikk også bakeriet ved siden av flere kunder. Når det regner på presten, så drypper det på klokkeren.When the chef got a Michelin star, the bakery next door also got more customers. A rising tide lifts all boats.

▶ når katten er borte, danser musene på bordet B1

Word for word: when the cat is away, the mice dance on the table

Means: when the boss is not there, the others do as they please

In English: when the cat’s away, the mice will play

▶ Læreren var syk i dag, og når katten er borte, danser musene på bordet.The teacher was ill today, and when the cat’s away, the mice will play.

▶ nok er nok A2

Word for word: enough is enough

Means: this has gone too far and must stop

In English: enough is enough

▶ Du har kommet for sent fem ganger denne måneden. Nok er nok!You have been late five times this month. Enough is enough!

▶ øvelse gjør mester A2

Word for word: practice makes master

Means: you get good at something by practising a lot

In English: practice makes perfect

▶ Uttalen din blir bedre for hver uke. Øvelse gjør mester!Your pronunciation gets better every week. Practice makes perfect!

▶ rett som det er B2

Word for word: right as it is

Means: every so often and quite unexpectedly

In English: every so often

▶ Rett som det er, dukker det opp en elg i hagen vår.Every so often, a moose turns up in our garden.

▶ smør på flesk C1

Word for word: butter on bacon

Means: an unnecessary doubling, more than needed

▶ Å si «gratis gave» er egentlig smør på flesk, for en gave er alltid gratis.Saying «free gift» is really a needless doubling, because a gift is always free.

▶ som lyn fra klar himmel B1

Word for word: like lightning from a clear sky

Means: completely suddenly and unexpectedly

In English: like a bolt from the blue

▶ Beskjeden om at fabrikken skulle legges ned, kom som lyn fra klar himmel.The news that the factory would close came like a bolt from the blue.

▶ stille før stormen B1

Word for word: quiet before the storm

Means: a calm period just before something dramatic or busy

In English: the calm before the storm

▶ Klokka seks om morgenen er det stille før stormen på flyplassen.At six in the morning, it is the calm before the storm at the airport.

▶ sulten som en ulv A2

Word for word: hungry as a wolf

Means: very hungry

In English: as hungry as a horse

▶ Etter skituren var vi sultne som ulver.After the ski trip we were as hungry as horses.

▶ tiden leger alle sår B1

Word for word: time heals all wounds

Means: grief and pain fade as time passes

In English: time heals all wounds

▶ Det gjør vondt nå, men tiden leger alle sår.It hurts now, but time heals all wounds.

▶ til syvende og sist B1

Word for word: to seventh and last

Means: when everything is taken into account

In English: at the end of the day

▶ Til syvende og sist er det du som bestemmer hvor du vil bo.At the end of the day, it is you who decides where you want to live.

▶ titt og ofte B2

Word for word: often and often

Means: very often, again and again

In English: time and again

▶ Datteren min ringer titt og ofte for å spørre om lekser.My daughter calls time and again to ask about homework.

▶ ut i det blå B1

Word for word: out into the blue

Means: without a goal or plan, to an unknown place

In English: into the blue

▶ Vi har ingen planer i sommerferien. Vi setter oss i bilen og kjører ut i det blå.We have no plans for the summer holiday. We will get in the car and drive off into the blue.

▶ ut på tur, aldri sur A2

Word for word: out on a trip, never sour

Means: a trip outdoors always puts you in a good mood

▶ Det regnet litt, men vi tok sekken og gikk til hytta. Ut på tur, aldri sur!It was raining a bit, but we grabbed our rucksacks and walked to the cabin. A hike always cheers you up!