Bedeutung
To avoid attracting attention.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Linked to 'Jantelagen', holding a low profile is often seen as a virtue. It shows you are a team player and not an egoist. In American business culture, holding a low profile can sometimes be seen as a lack of confidence, though it is still used strategically. Similar to Sweden, the 'nail that sticks out gets hammered down'. Holding a low profile is essential for social harmony (Wa). Used often in politics ('faire profil bas') when a politician is involved in a scandal and needs to disappear from the news.
The 'Jante' Connection
If you want to sound like a native, use this phrase when discussing why you didn't brag about a promotion. It shows you understand Swedish social norms.
Don't say 'Kort'
Never say 'kort profil'. Even though 'low' and 'short' are related in English, they are strictly different in this Swedish idiom.
Bedeutung
To avoid attracting attention.
The 'Jante' Connection
If you want to sound like a native, use this phrase when discussing why you didn't brag about a promotion. It shows you understand Swedish social norms.
Don't say 'Kort'
Never say 'kort profil'. Even though 'low' and 'short' are related in English, they are strictly different in this Swedish idiom.
Workplace Wisdom
In Swedish 'fika' culture, someone who 'håller låg profil' is often seen as a good listener.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'hålla'.
Igår ______ jag låg profil eftersom jag var så trött.
'Igår' (yesterday) requires the past tense (preterite) form of 'hålla', which is 'höll'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say you want to avoid attention?
Jag vill inte att folk ser mig idag.
'Hålla låg profil' is the standard idiomatic expression.
Match the situation to the reason for holding a low profile.
Situation: Du har precis börjat ett nytt jobb.
In Sweden, it's common to 'hålla låg profil' at a new job to observe and learn the culture.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Hålla låg profil vs. Ligga lågt
Aufgabensammlung
3 AufgabenIgår ______ jag låg profil eftersom jag var så trött.
'Igår' (yesterday) requires the past tense (preterite) form of 'hålla', which is 'höll'.
Jag vill inte att folk ser mig idag.
'Hålla låg profil' is the standard idiomatic expression.
Situation: Du har precis börjat ett nytt jobb.
In Sweden, it's common to 'hålla låg profil' at a new job to observe and learn the culture.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's usually neutral or even positive. It implies they are being sensible or cautious.
Rarely. It's almost always used for people, companies, or organizations.
The past tense is 'höll låg profil'. Example: 'Han höll låg profil igår'.
Very similar! 'Ligga lågt' is a bit more informal and can imply waiting for something to pass.
Yes, adding 'en' is perfectly correct and slightly more formal.
Yes, if a team doesn't want to brag before a big game, they might hold a low profile.
No. Shyness is a personality trait; holding a low profile is a choice.
You can say 'ha en hög profil', but it's less common as an idiom. Usually, we say someone is 'välkänd' (well-known).
Extremely common, especially in political and business reporting.
Yes, if you are dating someone and don't want to tell people yet, you are 'holding a low profile'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Ligga lågt
synonymTo lie low
Flyga under radarn
similarTo fly under the radar
Göra väsen av sig
contrastTo make a fuss/noise
Söka rampljuset
contrastTo seek the spotlight
