My biggest language struggle when living in the UK is definitely all the weird expressions and idioms that people use in everyday life without even thinking about it. For a non native speaker, it can be darn tricky to figure out what they mean, but probably even more difficult to try to incorporate them when speaking yourself. When you can throw idioms and jokes around you in another language, well, then you have come a really long way!
This past week I have gathered some odd Swedish expressions that has come up in either in conversations, on the radio or in articles/blogs. It’s only five, there are probably thousands. But hey, we have to start somewhere;

Bära hundhuvudet
Meaning: To be the one who gets the blame
Literally meaning: To carry the dog’s head
Example: Chefen fick bära hundhuvet för skandalen (The boss got the blaim for the scandal)

Håll i hatten!
Meaning: Pay attention, big things will happen, look out
Literally meaning: Hold on to your hat!
Example: Håll i hatten, nu åker vi!  (Look out, let’s go)

Killen hela dagen
Meaning: A great guy, someone that is the perfect combination of chatty and charming but perhaps slightly over the top.
Literally meaning: The boy all day
Example: Johan är verkligen killen hela dagen! ( Johan is a great guy)

Hej kom och hjälp mig!
Meaning: When something or someone is really messy
Literally meaning: Hello come and help me
Example: Rummet såg ut som hej kom och hjälp mig! (The room was extremely messy)

Femtioelva
Meaning: An expression for exageration
Literally meaning: Fiftyeleven
Example: Vi har väntat på bussen i femtioelva år! (We have been waiting for the bus for fiftyeleven years)

Next time in Swedish odd expressions part II:
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