en koloss på lerfötter
Meaning: Something that appears powerful and impressive but rests on a fundamentally weak foundation and will collapse easily.
Language: Swedish
Literally: a colossus on clay feet
Category: The Absurd
Origin: Drawn from the biblical image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue with feet of clay, which crumbled when struck.
More idioms — The Absurd
- så till den milda grad — To such an extent; to a remarkable or extreme degree, often used ironically.
- lägga sig i — To insert oneself into a situation uninvited; to meddle or interfere.
- slåss mot väderkvarnar — To engage in a futile struggle against imaginary or trivial enemies.
- błędne koło — A logical fallacy or impossible situation in which the solution requires solving the prob…
- nic a nic — Not at all; not in the slightest.
- pi razy oko — A rough, approximate measure with little precision; give or take.
More Swedish idioms
- köra med — To tease, bully, or push someone around.
- sätta till alla klutar — To make a maximum effort or remove all restraints in pursuit of something.
- falla till föga — To surrender one's position or resistance; to give in.
- inte spotta i glaset — To willingly accept and consume alcohol when offered; to enjoy drinking.
- het på gröten — Overly eager or impatient, wanting something too urgently.
- kratta manegen — To prepare the ground or circumstances to make it easier for someone to accomplish a task.
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