Norwegian expressions
Norwegian idioms and sayings
Norwegian has many everyday expressions that sound strange when translated word for word. This guide gives you the literal image, the real meaning, and the situation where each phrase makes sense. Many of these idioms come from Norway's long history of weather, fishing, farming, home life, and practical outdoor culture.
Weather, nature, and home
Many Norwegian sayings are tied to weather, hiking, food, and everyday life.
5
Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær.
Literally: There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.
Do not complain about the weather; dress for it instead.
Borte bra, men hjemme best.
Literally: Away is good, but home is best.
It can be nice to travel, but nothing beats home.
Ut på tur, aldri sur.
Literally: Out on a trip, never grumpy.
There is no reason to be grumpy when you are outside.
Uten mat og drikke duger helten ikke.
Literally: Without food and drink, the hero does not work.
You cannot do much on an empty stomach.
Frisk som en fisk.
Literally: Healthy as a fish.
Very healthy.
Time, chance, and habits
These are useful when talking about timing, routines, opportunities, and decisions.
8
Gammel vane er vond å vende.
Literally: An old habit is hard to turn.
Old habits are hard to change.
Morgenstund har gull i munn.
Literally: Morning time has gold in its mouth.
The morning is valuable, especially if you start early.
Førstemann til mølla.
Literally: First person to the mill.
First come, first served.
Smi mens jernet er varmt.
Literally: Forge while the iron is hot.
Act while you still have the chance.
Bedre sent enn aldri.
Literally: Better late than never.
Doing something late is better than not doing it at all.
Aldri for sent å snu.
Literally: Never too late to turn.
It is never too late to stop, change course, or go back.
Tida flyr.
Literally: Time flies.
Time is passing, or has passed, very quickly.
Øving gjør mester.
Literally: Practice makes a master.
You have to practice to become good at something.
People, personality, and family
Use these to describe character, family resemblance, confidence, and social behavior.
7
Eplet faller ikke langt fra stammen.
Literally: The apple does not fall far from the trunk.
Children often resemble their parents.
Å ha bein i nesa.
Literally: To have bones in your nose.
To be tough, determined, and willing to speak up.
En gladlaks.
Literally: A happy salmon.
A cheerful, positive person.
Du er ikke den skarpeste kniven i skuffen.
Literally: You are not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
You are not very smart.
Lyset er på, men ingen er hjemme.
Literally: The light is on, but nobody is home.
Someone is not paying attention or not thinking clearly.
Like barn leker best.
Literally: Similar children play best.
People with similar habits or values often get along well.
En ulv i fåreklær.
Literally: A wolf in sheep's clothing.
A dangerous or dishonest person disguised as harmless.
Conversation and social situations
These expressions come up when people speak frankly, talk over each other, or avoid the point.
9
Å snakke rett fra levra.
Literally: To speak straight from the liver.
To speak plainly and honestly without sugar-coating.
Å gå rundt grøten.
Literally: To walk around the porridge.
To avoid getting to the point.
Snakke i munnen på hverandre.
Literally: To talk in each other's mouths.
To talk at the same time or talk over one another.
Holde tunga rett i munnen.
Literally: To keep the tongue straight in the mouth.
To concentrate and be accurate.
Jeg har det på tungen.
Literally: I have it on my tongue.
It is on the tip of my tongue.
Jeg har en høne å plukke med noen.
Literally: I have a hen to pluck with someone.
I have a bone to pick with someone.
Hva er i veien?
Literally: What is in the way?
What is wrong?
Håper det smaker.
Literally: I hope it tastes.
I hope it tastes good; bon appetit.
Ha det bra.
Literally: Have it well.
Goodbye; take care.
Trouble, suspicion, and mistakes
These are good for describing awkward situations, bad choices, and when something feels off.
10
Det er ugler i mosen.
Literally: There are owls in the moss.
Something is suspicious or not quite right.
Å sitte med skjegget i postkassa.
Literally: To sit with your beard in the mailbox.
To end up stuck in an awkward or foolish situation.
Å bli tatt på senga.
Literally: To be taken in the bed.
To be caught off guard.
Å bli tatt på fersken.
Literally: To be taken on the fresh.
To be caught in the act.
Å male seg selv inn i et hjørne.
Literally: To paint yourself into a corner.
To put yourself in a difficult situation.
Å tråkke i salaten.
Literally: To step in the salad.
To say or do something embarrassing or tactless.
Å være helt på jordet.
Literally: To be completely out in the field.
To be completely wrong or confused.
Å være på bærtur.
Literally: To be out berry-picking.
To not know what you are talking about or doing.
Det er helt på trynet.
Literally: It is completely on the face.
It is totally ridiculous.
Det er helt hull i hodet.
Literally: It is completely hole in the head.
That is very stupid or ridiculous.
Belief, honesty, and judgement
These phrases help you talk about trust, hidden motives, and whether something should be believed.
7
Ta det med en klype salt.
Literally: Take it with a pinch of salt.
Do not believe it completely or take it too seriously.
Å ta det for god fisk.
Literally: To take it as good fish.
To believe something without doubting it.
Å ha rent mel i posen.
Literally: To have clean flour in the bag.
To have honest intentions.
Å stikke noe under en stol.
Literally: To stick something under a chair.
To hide something or avoid admitting it.
Man skal ikke skue hunden på hårene.
Literally: You should not judge the dog by its hairs.
Do not judge something only by how it looks.
Å dra alle under en kam.
Literally: To pull everyone under one comb.
To generalize or stereotype a whole group.
Å ha en finger med i spillet.
Literally: To have a finger included in the game.
To have a part in something, often secretly.
Success, popularity, and advantage
Use these when something is going well, selling fast, or putting someone in a strong position.
8
Det går så det griner.
Literally: It goes so well that it cries.
It is going really well.
Det selger som hakka møkk.
Literally: It sells like chopped manure.
It is selling extremely well.
Å være i vinden.
Literally: To be in the wind.
To be popular, fashionable, or on a roll.
Å være midt i smørøyet.
Literally: To be in the middle of the butter eye.
To be in an ideal place or situation.
Som plommen i egget.
Literally: Like the yolk in the egg.
To be in a very comfortable or ideal situation.
Å få både i pose og sekk.
Literally: To get both in bag and sack.
To get both advantages; like having your cake and eating it too.
Å få blod på tannen.
Literally: To get blood on the tooth.
To become inspired, eager, or driven to continue.
Brillefint.
Literally: Glasses-fine.
Splendid or superb.
Warnings and lessons
Norwegian also has many compact sayings about learning from mistakes and avoiding bad assumptions.
8
Brent barn skyr ilden.
Literally: A burned child avoids the fire.
People learn from painful mistakes.
Ikke selg skinnet før bjørnen er skutt.
Literally: Do not sell the hide before the bear has been shot.
Do not promise results before you know you can deliver.
Selv en blind høne kan finne korn.
Literally: Even a blind hen can find grain.
Anyone can get lucky.
Jo flere kokker, jo mere søl.
Literally: The more cooks, the more mess.
Too many people involved can make a situation worse.
Å gjøre noen en bjørnetjeneste.
Literally: To do someone a bear favor.
To try to help but end up doing harm.
Å svelge noen kameler.
Literally: To swallow some camels.
To accept something unpleasant to keep the peace.
Mye vil ha mer.
Literally: Much wants more.
People who already have a lot often want even more.
Det er aldri så galt at det ikke er godt for noe.
Literally: It is never so bad that it is not good for something.
You can usually find something positive in a bad situation.
Colorful informal phrases
These are memorable, but many are casual, rude, or best saved for people you know well.
9
Det er helt Texas.
Literally: It is completely Texas.
It is wild, chaotic, or crazy.
Har du røyka sokka dine?
Literally: Have you smoked your socks?
Are you crazy?
Ryk og reis.
Literally: Smoke and travel.
Go away; a rude way to tell someone to leave.
Å tenke koffert.
Literally: To think suitcase.
To interpret things sexually or have your mind in the gutter.
Ta knekken på meg.
Literally: Break me.
This is wearing me down or killing me.
Stopp en halv.
Literally: Stop one half.
Hold on; wait a second.
For noe tull og fanteri.
Literally: What nonsense and foolishness.
Silly, useless, or unserious behavior.
Det er hipp som happ for meg.
Literally: It is hip as happ for me.
Either option is fine with me.
Hvorfor så lang i maska?
Literally: Why so long in the mask?
Why do you look so sad, disappointed, or surprised?
How to practice them
- Use idioms mostly in relaxed conversation, messages, and storytelling.
- Learn the whole phrase, not just the individual words.
- If an idiom feels too colorful for a formal email, replace it with a plain sentence.
- Notice the verb form. Many idioms are used with å before the infinitive, but the verb changes in real sentences.
