Norwegian phrase of the day: Skjegget i postkassa
Have you ever wondered what Norwegians say when they find themselves in a spot of bother?
Why do I need to know this expression?
Skjegget i postkassa is perhaps one of the most common Norwegian slang expressions used in both professional and casual conversations. Without knowing the meaning of this phrase, you could find yourself pretty lost and confused in a discussion if you took what it means literally.
What does it mean?
Skjegget i postkassa directly translated means, “The beard in the mailbox”.
It has nothing to do with a literal beard or a literal mailbox. Created in the 1950s, the expression is often used to describe when someone gets into a pinch or gets into trouble. It could also be used to describe when someone doesn’t fully achieve something that they wanted to do.
Similar English expressions that compare to Skjegget i postkassa are “caught in a jam” or “stuck between a rock and a hard place”.
Use it like this
Så, til slutt ender du opp med skjegget i postkassa. – “So in the end, you end up with the beard in the mailbox.”
Kommende generasjoner vil sitte med skjegget i postkassen. – “Future generations will sit with their beard in the mailbox.”
Comments (1)
See Also
Why do I need to know this expression?
Skjegget i postkassa is perhaps one of the most common Norwegian slang expressions used in both professional and casual conversations. Without knowing the meaning of this phrase, you could find yourself pretty lost and confused in a discussion if you took what it means literally.
What does it mean?
Skjegget i postkassa directly translated means, “The beard in the mailbox”.
It has nothing to do with a literal beard or a literal mailbox. Created in the 1950s, the expression is often used to describe when someone gets into a pinch or gets into trouble. It could also be used to describe when someone doesn’t fully achieve something that they wanted to do.
Similar English expressions that compare to Skjegget i postkassa are “caught in a jam” or “stuck between a rock and a hard place”.
Use it like this
Så, til slutt ender du opp med skjegget i postkassa. – “So in the end, you end up with the beard in the mailbox.”
Kommende generasjoner vil sitte med skjegget i postkassen. – “Future generations will sit with their beard in the mailbox.”
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.