IdiomAnimals
Danish
DanishAt have rotter på loftet
Meaning: To be a little crazy.
Literally: To have rats in the attic
Example: “Han taler med sine planter; han har vist rotter på loftet.” — He talks to his plants; I think he has a screw loose.
English equivalent: To have a screw loose
Origin: The head pictured as a house, with rats running about in the attic, is a mind not quite in order. It is the Danish counterpart of English "bats in the belfry" and has no documented origin or first use.
Equivalents in other languages
Finnish: Ei ole kaikki muumit laaksossa Literally: Not all the Moomins are in the valley
French: Avoir une araignée au plafond Literally: To have a spider on the ceiling
German: eine Schraube locker haben Literally: To have a screw loose
English: have a screw loose
More Danish idioms
- Det blæser en halv pelikan It is extremely windy.
- At tisse i bukserne for at holde varmen A quick fix that makes the problem worse soon after.
- At save den gren over man selv sidder på To undermine your own position.
- At gå over åen efter vand To do something in a needlessly roundabout way.
- At trække det store læs To do the heavy lifting and carry the work.
- At træde i spinaten To put your foot in it; to blunder.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Eres más corto que las mangas de un chaleco You're not the sharpest — a bit slow on the uptake.
- Du bist nicht die hellste Kerze auf der Torte You're a little dim — not the smartest in the room.
- Tu as une cervelle de moineau You're scatterbrained and forgetful.
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