IdiomNatureSwedish

ta sig vatten över huvudet

Meaning: Get in over one's head; take on more than one can manage.

Literally: Take oneself water over the head

Example: “Med tre jobb samtidigt har hon tagit sig vatten över huvudet.” — With three jobs at once, she's in over her head.

English equivalent: In over one's head

Equivalents in other languages

Origin: Someone wading into water deeper than their own height loses their footing. Taking water over one's head is taking on more than one can handle, like English "to get in over one's head." No particular story lies behind it.

More Swedish idioms

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

  • Torschlusspanik The anxious fear that time is running out — that the gates of opportunity, youth, or life…
  • Kummerspeck The weight you gain from emotional eating — the extra pounds that accumulate during heart…
  • Fremdschämen The vicarious embarrassment you feel for someone who is doing something cringeworthy — ev…

Browse all untranslatable words →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →