Don’t get lost in translation

10 unique Danish idioms that will leave you scratching your head

Published on November 27, 2024

Credit: Markus Winkler

Easy or difficult to learn, every language is rich and full of cultural aspects. They are one of the best tools to learn about a country, their culture, and their people. And of course, the Danish language is not the exception. Coming from the Indo-European language family, the Danish has some funny idiomatic expressions. For example, "reading a horse" is actually a thing and it describes a passion for reading, did you know that? Continue reading to learn 10 Danish expressions and their meaning translated!

Mind the cows

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When life gets a bit hard, we all need some reassurance, someone to tell us that everything will be okay and that there’s nothing to worry about.

Funny enough, the Danish language has an expression that goes ingen ko på isen, which translates to "no cow on the ice." This is actually an abbreviation of a longer phrase which is der er ingen ko på isen, så længe rumpen er i land, that is, "there is no cow on the ice as long as the buttock is on land." We have never seen a cow on ice, but it’s probably not the safest place for the poor animal, is it?

Beat the devil

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Sayings are indeed a curious thing, and their power goes without saying. That is, who wouldn’t get up early with the prospect of getting a worm? But fun as they are, they are cultural too, and according to the Danish saying, you won’t get a worm, you’ll beat the devil. Let us show you!

In Danish, you don’t simply say "Oh! You woke up rather early!" No, you say før fanden får sko på which literally translates to "you woke up before the devil put his shoes on." If the worm wasn’t enough encouragement, outrunning the Devil will surely convince you!

Flies or birds?

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Efficiency and creativity are praised qualities in most cultures. Who doesn’t try to maximize outcomes with minimal effort? That way, one can slå to fluer med et smæk. Can’t you guess what it means? Well, this Danish expression translates to "hit two flies with one swat."

If the translation rings all your bells, that’s because it means the same as our saying "to kill two birds with one stone." Resourcefulness finds its way through idioms in every language!

A passion for reading

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Is your house full of books from ground to ceiling because you love reading? Have you got a never-ending list of books to be read? Well, in Danish, you’re læsehest: you’re reading a horse. A horse? Here’s the explanation.

We don’t know what it is about books and animals, but this phrase is the Danish equivalent of being a bookworm, that is, someone who is always reading and enjoys a good book. Are you one of those people?

Your bluest days

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Sadness and low spirits resort to all kinds of metaphors to make it a less gloomy business than it already is. Blue has nothing to do with sadness, but that has never stopped anyone from feeling a bit down before, right?

But for the Danish, the expression takes a different turn. In that case, you don’t just feel sad or depressed, yo gået ned med flaget. And if you didn’t get that from context, the translation is: "You’ve gone down with the flag," which ultimately means your spirits could use a lift.

Bite your nails

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Picture someone nervous and stressed because they have a test ahead, what do they do? They usually bite their nails, right? But in the Danish language, biting or eating one’s nails has nothing to do with being nervous.

There’s one expression that goes du må have spist søm, which translates to "you must have eaten nails." Now, without context, it can be a bit obscure, but the meaning is quite simple: It means, "no way!"

Sour apples? No, thanks!

Credit: Isabella Fischer

Fruits are no dessert, we’ve already settled that. However, nobody can say no to a bright red juicy apple. What a disappointment when you take a bite only to discover it’s sour and mealy, right?

In Danish, there is an expression that perfectly describes this feeling of talking about something you don’t want to do. The phrase is bide i det sure æble and it means "to bite into the sour apple." Who would want to do that?

Maximum effort

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On the opposite end, there is an expression that describes that eagerness or determination to accomplish something, although its literal translation is a bit of a bloody business.

When you want to try something new and are as determined as possible, you say få blod på tanden which literally translates to "get blood on your teeth" as a metaphor for how willing you are to fight for what you want.

Endless prayers

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Regardless of where or who we deposit our faith in, wherever we feel lost or we are in trouble, we pray something up there has our back, don’t we? Sighs of relief usually call upon the same figure.

But in the Danish language, people don’t say "Oh, God!" or "Jesus Christ!" The Danish say: milde Moses, which literally translates to "gentle Moses." Isn’t that cute?

Fishy owls

Credit: Richard Lee

Who hasn’t experienced eerie scenarios, suspicious situations, and some things "fishy." Or, in Danish, der er ugler i mosen.

The last expression in our article is to suggest keeping an eye on or being cautious about a situation. Translated into English, it means "there are owls in the bog," and it refers to how unusual it is to see owls in that particular place, hinting that there might be more going on than meets the eye.

MERGING MEANING

Wordbuilding: 10 portmanteaus that fly under the radar

Published on November 27, 2024

Credit: Matthew Smith

First of all, what exactly is a portmanteau? Portmanteaus, also known as blend words, are formed by combining both the sounds and meanings of two or more words. More often than not, portmanteaus are intentionally created to introduce new ideas or concepts into the English language in a natural and intuitive way. Some blend in so seamlessly that we might even forget they're made from two other words! From "smog" to "motel" or even "brunch," portmanteaus are everywhere. Dive with us into the strange and surprising world of word blends.

Smog

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A combination of "smoke" and "fog," the term "smog" was coined in London during the early 20th century to describe the dense, fog-like air pollution resulting from industrial smoke mixing with atmospheric moisture. This phenomenon became particularly severe during the winter months, as cold, damp conditions trapped pollutants close to the ground.

The Great Smog of 1952 in London, a tragic event that caused thousands of deaths, cemented the concept into popular language and served as a wake-up call about the risks of heavily polluted air in modern cities.

Helicopter

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Although many English speakers assume that "helicopter" is composed of "heli-" and "-copter," leading to terms like "helipad" and "quadcopter," it is actually a portmanteau of the Greek words "helix" (spiral) and "pteron" (wing).

While the first practical helicopters did not become widespread until World War II, the concept is much older, and the term itself was coined by French inventor Gustave de Ponton d'Amécourt in 1861. He created a small steam-powered prototype that followed the same aerodynamic principles used in contemporary helicopter designs.

Internet

Credit: Leon Seibert

Curiously, the word saw some use before the advent of computing, and it was used as early as 1849, to describe something interconnected or interwoven, most likely fabrics. Today, the terms "Internet" and "World Wide Web" are often used interchangeably, though they do not mean the same thing.

The World Wide Web, or the Web, is actually just one of a large number of Internet services that currently exist, alongside others like email and file-sharing.

Pixel

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In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last fifty years, pixels are the tiny dots that form the images you see on screens, making up the building blocks of digital displays. Each pixel represents a single point of color, and together, pixels create the complete image on a screen.

Although "pixel" might seem like a tiny word for an even tinier concept, did you know that it actually combines two words? The term is short for "picture element," with the word "pix" being derived from "picture" and "el" from "element."

Motel

Credit: Randy Laybourne

"Motel" combines "motor" and "hotel" to describe a type of roadside lodging designed specifically for motorists. But even if you already knew that—admittedly, it is fairly obvious—did you know the name actually originated from a specific hotel? The now-defunct Milestone Mo-Tel, located in San Luis Obispo, California, built in 1925, was the first to coin the term. In fact, it was later renamed the "Motel Inn."

This type of roadside lodging became very popular as modern highway systems developed throughout the 20th century, peaking around the 1960s. Today, motels have largely been displaced by chain hotels near highway interchanges. However, for those feeling nostalgic, some motels have been preserved as historic sites, offering a glimpse into mid-century travel culture.

Chortle

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"Chortle," a blend of "chuckle" and "snort," has a surprisingly literary origin. The word was coined by Lewis Carroll in his 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass, to describe a laugh that perfectly combines the elements of chuckling and snorting.

Carroll was quite fond of portmanteaus, and in fact, he actually coined the term "portmanteau" itself to describe these blend words—which may or may not be a portmanteau itself, depending on who you ask. The word originally referred to a suitcase that opened on a hinge into two equal parts, which Carroll used as a metaphor for words that blend two meanings into one.

Ginormous

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"Ginormous" merges "gigantic" and "enormous" to describe something that is exceptionally large. The term, which emerged during World War II as slang among British soldiers, gained popularity in part due to its exaggerated and humorous tone.

While one might argue that it's an unusual portmanteau, given that both words carry nearly identical meanings, the combination creates a reinforcing effect that emphasizes the absurdity of the size it describes. Eventually, the widespread use of "ginormous" led to its formal recognition in dictionaries, becoming an accepted part of standard English vocabulary.

Podcast

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A portmanteau of "iPod" and "broadcast," the word "Podcast" was coined in the early 2000s, as digital audio content began to gain traction. While the term was initially limited to media produced for Apple’s iPod, the term evolved beyond its original context to refer to any type of spoken content, regardless of the device used for listening.

Podcasts peaked in popularity during the pandemic, and have since become a major platform for delivering spoken content, from news to entertainment, to global audiences.

Email

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Another obvious example, "email" is a blend of "electronic" and "mail," yet we often become so accustomed to the word that we forget its original meaning. Developed in the 1970s, email revolutionized communication, marking a significant shift away from traditional postal services.

By the 1980s and 1990s, email use had spread across businesses, government, universities, and defense industries. With the rise of webmail and email clients in the mid-1990s, it quickly extended to the general public. By the 2000s, email had achieved ubiquitous status, becoming a primary mode of communication worldwide.

Brunch

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"Brunch" is a blend of "breakfast" and "lunch," first appearing in Britain in the late 19th century as a mid-morning Sunday meal or hunt breakfast. It was introduced as a more relaxed dining option that bridges the gap between breakfast and lunch, often enjoyed on weekends or holidays.

At the time, the concept reflected a shift toward more leisurely dining experiences. Over the years, brunch has become a cultural phenomenon, with dedicated menus and establishments catering to the growing popularity of this mid-morning meal. It traditionally offers a variety of foods and beverages suited to both breakfast and lunch preferences, making it a versatile dining option.