IdiomDaily Life
Swedish
Swedishhögt spel
Meaning: A risky venture or pursuit involving substantial stakes and danger.
Literally: High game
Example: “Att satsa hela arvet på aktier är ett högt spel.” — Betting the whole inheritance on stocks is playing for high stakes.
English equivalent: To play for high stakes
Equivalents in other languages
English: play for high stakes
Origin: In gambling, högt spel (high play) is playing for high stakes. Figuratively it is any venture where much can be won or lost. No particular story lies behind it.
More Swedish idioms
- surt sa räven To claim that something undesirable was not worth having anyway, as a way of masking disa…
- slåss mot väderkvarnar To engage in a futile struggle against imaginary or trivial enemies.
- ha is i magen To remain calm and composed under pressure, resisting the urge to act rashly.
- 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.
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