Idioms for Pressure and Coping
Swedish idiom for being stretched thin — and for holding on.
Idioms for pressure, honestly used: balls in the air and dropped, the wall approached and survived — klokare, och långsammare.
- 1
vara på bristningsgränsen
to be at breaking point
Tip: lit. 'be at the bursting limit'
- 2
ha fullt upp
to have your hands full
Tip: lit. 'have full up'
- 3
drunkna i arbete
to be snowed under
Tip: lit. 'drown in work'
- 4
bränna sitt ljus i båda ändar
to burn the candle at both ends
Tip: lit. the same
- 5
hålla alla bollar i luften
to keep all the balls in the air
Tip: lit. the same
- 6
tappa bollen
to drop the ball
Tip: lit. 'lose the ball'
- 7
köra slut på sig själv
to run yourself into the ground
Tip: lit. 'drive oneself out'
- 8
vara utspridd på för mycket
to be stretched thin
Tip: lit. 'be spread over too much'
- 9
bita ihop
to grin and bear it
Tip: lit. 'bite together'
- 10
ha kort stubin
to be on a short fuse
Tip: lit. 'have a short fuse'
- 11
tappa det
to fly off the handle
Tip: lit. 'lose it'
- 12
stänga inne allt
to bottle things up
Tip: lit. 'shut everything in'
- 13
få ur sig det
to let off steam
Tip: lit. 'get it out of oneself'
- 14
se ljuset i tunneln
to see the light at the end of the tunnel
Tip: lit. 'see the light in the tunnel'
- 15
ta en dag i taget
to take one day at a time
Tip: lit. the same
- 16
komma på fötter igen
to be back on your feet
Tip: lit. 'come onto one's feet again'
- 17
lyfta en sten från bröstet
to take a load off your shoulders
Tip: lit. 'lift a stone from the chest'
- 18
ta på sig för mycket
to shoulder too much
Tip: lit. 'take on oneself too much'
- 19
bli dragen åt alla håll
to be pulled in every direction
Tip: lit. the same
- 20
tappa tråden
to lose the thread
Tip: lit. the same
- 21
vara vid vägs ände
to reach the end of your rope
Tip: lit. 'be at the road's end'
- 22
sätta ner foten
to put your foot down
Tip: lit. the same
- 23
dra en gräns
to draw a line
Tip: lit. 'draw a boundary'
- 24
vara halvvägs
to be halfway there
Tip: lit. the same
- 25
vända åt rätt håll
to turn a corner
Tip: lit. 'turn in the right direction'
- 26
äntligen få andas ut
to breathe out at last
Tip: lit. 'finally get to breathe out'
- 27
vara slut på krafter
to be at the end of your rope
Tip: lit. 'be out of strength'
- 28
bära allt själv
to carry it all yourself
Tip: lit. the same
- 29
dela på bördan
to share the load
Tip: lit. the same
- 30
en sten från hjärtat
a weight off your shoulders
Tip: lit. 'a stone from the heart'
- 31
nå botten
to hit rock bottom
Tip: lit. 'reach the bottom'
- 32
det kan bara bli bättre
the only way is up
Tip: lit. 'it can only get better'
- 33
ett steg i taget
one step at a time
Tip: lit. the same
- 34
ta det varsamt
to take it slowly
Tip: lit. 'take it gently'
- 35
vara snäll mot sig själv
to be gentle with yourself
Tip: lit. the same
- 36
ge sig själv tid
to give yourself time
Tip: lit. the same
- 37
säga nej utan skuld
to say no without guilt
Tip: lit. the same
- 38
värna sin energi
to protect your energy
Tip: lit. the same
- 39
känna sina gränser
to know your limits
Tip: lit. the same
- 40
be om hjälp tidigt
to ask for help early
Tip: lit. the same
- 41
stolthet har ett pris
pride comes at a price
Tip: lit. the same
- 42
luta sig mot någon
to lean on someone
Tip: lit. the same
- 43
ingen klarar sig ensam
nobody manages alone
Tip: lit. the same
- 44
komma ut på andra sidan
to come out the other side
Tip: lit. the same
- 45
en annan människa efteråt
a different person afterwards
Tip: lit. the same
- 46
klokare, och långsammare
wiser, and slower
Tip: lit. the same