Norwegian Idioms

A curated set of 10 idioms in Norwegian — literal translations, real meanings, and where each one comes from.

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• Å være ute og sykle — To be completely mistaken or to have no idea what you're talking about. Literally: To be out cycling.
• Å ha bein i nesa — To be assertive and able to stand your ground. Literally: To have bones in the nose.
• Å snakke rett fra leveren — To speak frankly, without softening anything. Literally: To speak straight from the liver.
• Helt texas — Utterly wild, chaotic or out of control. Literally: Completely Texas.
• Å koke bort i kålen — To come to nothing; to fizzle out unresolved. Literally: To boil away in the cabbage.
• Å være midt i smørøyet — To be in the most fortunate spot imaginable. Literally: To be in the middle of the butter-eye.
• Å svelge noen kameler — To make big concessions and accept what you dislike. Literally: To swallow some camels.
• Å ha en høne å plukke med noen — To have a bone to pick with someone. Literally: To have a hen to pluck with someone.
• Å gjøre kål på noe — To finish something off completely. Literally: To make cabbage of something.
• Å være på pinebenken — To be in anxious suspense. Literally: To be on the torture bench.

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