bära eller brista
Meaning: To succeed or fail; to endure the test or collapse under it.
Language: Swedish
Literally: to bear or break
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The image is of something structural under strain—it will either hold its weight or snap; no middle ground exists.
More idioms — Daily Life
- ciągnie swój do swego — People naturally gravitate toward and associate with those similar to themselves.
- podbijać bębenka — To flatter someone in an attempt to win their favor.
- na kolanie — Done quickly, crudely, or without proper care; improvised and shoddy.
- papierek lakmusowy — A decisive test that reveals the true nature or quality of something.
- wyrzucić pieniądze w błoto — To waste money on something worthless or futile.
- prosty jak drut — Very easy or straightforward.
More Swedish idioms
- mitt på ljusan dag — In broad daylight; openly and obviously, not in secret.
- Att glida in på en räkmacka — To have things handed to you without effort.
- Att ha rent mjöl i påsen — To have a clean conscience; nothing to hide.
- att köpa grisen i säcken — To make a purchase or agreement without inspecting or understanding what you're actually…
- det är inte värt ett öre — Something is completely worthless or valueless.
- att vara rädd som en hare — To be extremely fearful and jumpy, ready to flee at the slightest danger.
From our tongue twisters
- Um tigre, dois tigres, três tigres tristes triscam trigo num trigal. — A 'tr' cluster drill that adds a sad adjective to make the alliteration worse.
- O papa papava o papo do pipo; o pipo papava o papo do papa. — A perfectly palindromic 'p' construction that reverses meaning when you swap the nouns.
- На дворе трава, на траве дрова. (Na dvore trava, na trave drova.) — A short but nasty 'tr/dr' blend — the consonant clusters that trip up every learner of Ru…