IdiomFood & DrinkSwedish

het på gröten

Meaning: Overly eager or impatient, wanting something too urgently.

Literally: Hot on the porridge

Example: “Var inte så het på gröten, vi har inte fått kontraktet än.” — Don't jump the gun; we haven't got the contract yet.

English equivalent: To jump the gun

Equivalents in other languages

Origin: Porridge is eaten from the cooler edges inward, and someone too eager to wait burns their mouth on the hot middle. Het på gröten (hot on the porridge) is being overeager and rushing ahead. Swedish also says gå som katten kring het gröt (like a cat around hot porridge) for beating around the bush.

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