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Swedish Proverbs - Ordspråk
Bättre en fågel i handen än tio i skogen. - Better a bird in hand then 10 in the forest.
Borta bra men hemma bäst. - Away is good but home is best.
(For some reason the är, or “is” is left out of the Swedish proverb).
Kom och gå en mil i mina mockasiner innan du bedömer vem jag är.
Come and go a Swedish mile in my moccasins before you criticize who I am.
Allt är inte guld som glimmar. - All aren't gold that glimmers.
Magra myggor biter värst. - Thin mosquitoes bite the worse.
Bättre sent än aldrig. - Better late than never.
Man ska inte köpa grisen i säcken. - One shouldn't buy a pig in a sack.
Bra karl reder sig själv. - (A) good man will cope on his own.
Bättre lyss till den sträng som brast än aldrig spänna en båge. - Better listen to a
broken string than never having bent a bow.
Bättre älskat och förlorat än att aldrig ha älskat. - Better [having] loved and lost than
never [having] loved.
Det man förlorar på gungorna tar man igen på karusellen.
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The loss on the swings is won back on the merry-go-round.
Det som inte dödar, härdar. - What doesn't kill, hardens.
Eget beröm luktar illa. - Own praise has a bad smell.
Ensam är stark. - Alone is strong.
Finns det hjärterum så finns det stjärterum. -If there's room in your heart, there'll be
room for an ass. (To make room for one more person in a crowded place)
Har man tagit fan i båten får man ro honom i land. - Have you taken Old Nick in the
boat, you row him ashore.
(About taking responsibility for your actions)
I mörkret är alla katter grå. - In darkness all cats are grey.
(As an excuse for a mistake that wasn’t easily avoided)
Kärt barn har många namn. - Dear child has many names.
(Ironically about delusive names and descriptions)
Lagom är bäst. - ”Lagom” is best.
(..."lagom" describes an amount balanced by your judgment and discretion, sufficient for
its purpose, a fair share, not encroaching on other's rights)
Man ska inte skåda given häst i munnen. - Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
(A horse's age can be judged by its teeth, but it's bad manners to criticize the quality of
a gift, or to complain about a benefit that's free.)
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Man ska inte sälja skinnet förrän björnen är skjuten. - Don’t sell the pelt until you've
killed the bear.
När fan blir gammal blir han religiös. - When the Devil grows old he'll become religious.
När Gud kommer med döden kommer Fan med arvingarna. - When God brings death,
the Devil brings the heirs.
När man talar om trollen!... (så står de i farstun). - When you talk about trolls!... (they
stand in the hall). (When the subject of a conversation unexpectedly shows up/
happens.)
Sagt ord och kastad sten kan inte tas tillbaka. - A word that's been said and a stone
that's been thrown can not be taken back.
Små sår och fattiga vänner ska man inte förakta. - Small wounds and poor friends
should not be despised.
Tomma tunnor skramlar mest. - Empty barrels rattle most. (About braggers)
Väck inte den björn som sover. - Don’t wake a sleeping bear.
Vägen till helvetet är kantat med goda föresatser. - The road to hell is lined with good
resolutions.
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