IdiomAnimals
Norwegian
NorwegianÅ svelge noen kameler
Meaning: To make big concessions and accept what you dislike.
Literally: To swallow some camels
Example: “For å få avtalen på plass måtte vi svelge noen kameler.” — To get the deal done, we had to grin and bear a few things.
English equivalent: Grin and bear it
Origin: From Matthew 23:24, where Jesus calls the Pharisees "blind guides, who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." Norwegian politics made å svelge kameler (to swallow camels) the standard phrase for accepting concessions one dislikes as the price of a deal.
Equivalents in other languages
Portuguese: Engolir sapos Literally: To swallow toads
English: grin and bear it
French: Avaler des couleuvres Literally: To swallow grass snakes
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.
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