Å svelge noen kameler
Meaning: To make big concessions and accept what you dislike.
Language: Norwegian
Literally: To swallow some camels
Category: Animals
Origin: From the biblical image of straining the gnat yet swallowing the camel, now common in Norwegian political speech.
Equivalents in other languages
- Portuguese: Engolir sapos — literally: To swallow frogs
More idioms — Animals
- Å ha en høne å plukke med noen — To have a bone to pick with someone.
- Olla kuin Ellun kanat — To live a carefree, comfortable life.
- Sok lúd disznót győz — There is strength in numbers.
- Lóvá tesz valakit — To dupe or make a fool of someone.
- A face din țânțar armăsar — To exaggerate something enormously.
- A tăcea ca porcul în păpușoi — To keep guiltily quiet.
More Norwegian idioms
- Å gjøre kål på noe — To finish something off completely.
- Å være på pinebenken — To be in anxious suspense.
- Å være ute og sykle — To be completely mistaken or to have no idea what you're talking about.
- Å ha bein i nesa — To be assertive and able to stand your ground.
- Å snakke rett fra leveren — To speak frankly, without softening anything.
- Helt texas — Utterly wild, chaotic or out of control.
From our tongue twisters
- Zehn zahme Ziegen ziehen zehn Zentner Zucker zum Zoo. — A sustained 'z' / 'ts' drill — every word starts with the same affricate.
- Wenn Fliegen hinter Fliegen fliegen, fliegen Fliegen Fliegen nach. — Fliegen means 'flies' (insects), 'to fly', and 'flying' — all at once, relentlessly.
- Der Cottbuser Postkutscher putzt den Cottbuser Postkutschkasten. — A jaw-breaking compound-noun 'ts/tsch/sch' marathon — the German love of compound words w…