Holding the Elevator Door
Catching the lift for someone, and being caught for.
Twenty lines about one gesture: the shout (håll dörren! vänta, jag kommer!), the welcome aboard (det får plats, kliv in bara), the graceful declines (jag tar nästa, åk ni bara), the stubborn-door mechanics (tryck på öppna-knappen, den stänger så snabbt) — and the tiny drama's happy ending: jag höll på att fastna i dörren. Tack, du räddade mig.
- 1
Jag håller!
I'll hold it!
Tip: Shouted as someone hurries towards you
- 2
Håll dörren, tack!
Hold the door, please!
Tip: Calling to whoever is inside
- 3
Vänta, jag kommer!
Wait, I'm coming!
Tip: Running for the lift
- 4
Ingen brådska.
No rush.
Tip: Reassuring someone who is hurrying
- 5
Tack för att du väntade.
Thanks for waiting.
Tip: Thanking as you step in
- 6
Ingen fara.
No worries.
Tip: Brushing off their thanks
- 7
Det får plats.
There's room.
Tip: Inviting someone in
- 8
Kliv in bara.
Come on in.
Tip: bara softens it into an invitation
- 9
Hänger du med?
Are you coming?
Tip: Asking whether they will join you
- 10
Jag tar nästa.
I'll take the next one.
Tip: Declining a full lift
- 11
Åk ni bara.
Go on without me.
Tip: bara turns it into 'just go ahead'
- 12
Förlåt, jag har händerna fulla.
Sorry, my hands are full.
Tip: Explaining why you can't press
- 13
Kan du hålla den öppen en sekund?
Can you keep it open a second?
Tip: Asking for a moment
- 14
Dörren stänger sig hela tiden.
The door keeps closing.
Tip: Complaining about the timing
- 15
Tryck på öppna-knappen.
Press the open button.
Tip: Instructing someone
- 16
Den stänger så snabbt.
It shuts so fast.
Tip: Shared annoyance
- 17
Se upp, dörrarna stängs.
Careful, the doors are closing.
Tip: Warning someone
- 18
Kila in dig bara.
Just squeeze in.
Tip: Encouraging someone to fit
- 19
Jag höll på att fastna i dörren.
I nearly got caught in the door.
Tip: hålla på att = to be on the verge of, after a near miss
- 20
Tack, du räddade mig.
Thanks, you saved me.
Tip: Grateful, slightly dramatic