SwedishSkägget i brevlådan
Meaning: Caught red-handed in an awkward, embarrassing position.
Literally: With your beard in the mailbox
Example: “Han åkte fast med skägget i brevlådan när han åt av tårtan.” — He was caught red-handed eating the cake.
English equivalent: To catch someone red-handed
Origin: The picture is a man peering or shouting through a door's mail slot when the flap snaps shut on his beard, leaving him stuck in an undignified spot. Being caught with one's beard in the mailbox is being caught red-handed or landing in an embarrassing fix. The phrase is colloquial; no source found explains its origin or dates it, and it gave its name to SVT's Christmas calendar series of 2008.
Equivalents in other languages
Greek: Πιάστηκε στα πράσα Literally: Caught in the leeks
English: catch someone red-handed
More Swedish idioms
- Ana ugglor i mossen To sense that something fishy is going on.
- Lägga rabarber på något To claim or grab something for yourself.
- Nu har du satt din sista potatis You've done your last misdeed; you're finished.
- Att göra en pudel To make a public, groveling apology.
- Att ha tummen mitt i handen To be hopelessly clumsy; all thumbs.
- Nu är det kokta fläsket stekt Now we're really in trouble.
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