Bedeutung
to be in a difficult situation
Kultureller Hintergrund
Swedes often use this phrase to downplay a crisis. It's part of the 'understatement' culture. The phrase is iconic in children's stories, often used to describe the 'hyss' (mischief) of characters like Emil i Lönneberga. In meetings, 'i knipa' is a safe way to flag a risk without sounding alarmist. Commonly used in 'story' captions when something small goes wrong, like a spilled drink.
Add an Adjective
To sound more native, add 'rejäl' (real/big) to emphasize how much trouble you're in: 'en rejäl knipa'.
Preposition Alert
Always use 'i'. Using 'på' or 'med' will make the idiom lose its meaning.
Bedeutung
to be in a difficult situation
Add an Adjective
To sound more native, add 'rejäl' (real/big) to emphasize how much trouble you're in: 'en rejäl knipa'.
Preposition Alert
Always use 'i'. Using 'på' or 'med' will make the idiom lose its meaning.
Accidental Trouble
Use 'råka i knipa' if you want to emphasize that the trouble was an accident and not your fault.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing preposition and verb to complete the idiom.
Jag glömde min nyckel, så nu ______ jag ____ knipa.
The standard form is 'vara i knipa'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly in a professional context?
A: Jag är i knipa för min hund är söt. B: Projektet har hamnat i en ekonomisk knipa. C: Han kniper i knipan.
B uses the idiom correctly to describe a business problem.
Match the situation to the most appropriate phrase.
Situation: You are caught in a lie and can't escape. Phrase: ?
While 'i knipa' works, 'ha skägget i brevlådan' specifically refers to being caught red-handed.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kan du låna mig 100 kronor? B: Varför då? A: Jag ______ i knipa och måste köpa en biljett.
The present tense 'är' fits the immediate need for money.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Vara vs Hamna vs Råka
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJag glömde min nyckel, så nu ______ jag ____ knipa.
The standard form is 'vara i knipa'.
A: Jag är i knipa för min hund är söt. B: Projektet har hamnat i en ekonomisk knipa. C: Han kniper i knipan.
B uses the idiom correctly to describe a business problem.
Situation: You are caught in a lie and can't escape. Phrase: ?
While 'i knipa' works, 'ha skägget i brevlådan' specifically refers to being caught red-handed.
A: Kan du låna mig 100 kronor? B: Varför då? A: Jag ______ i knipa och måste köpa en biljett.
The present tense 'är' fits the immediate need for money.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 FragenIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Yes, but it's more common to drop the 'en' unless you have an adjective like 'en svår knipa'.
'Knipa' is more idiomatic and implies a sense of being stuck or under pressure, whereas 'problem' is more general.
No, it sounds too light. Use 'akut läge' or 'allvarligt tillstånd' for health emergencies.
Yes, very common in both journalism and fiction.
The plural is 'knipor', but the idiom is almost always used in the singular.
Yes, as a verb it means 'to pinch', and as a noun it can also be a type of duck.
You say 'Jag hjälpte honom ur knipan'.
Yes, it's a perfect B1 idiom because it's common and easy to use.
Yes, like forgetting your keys or being late.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but you could say 'utan problem' or 'i säkerhet'.
Yes, it is a standard Swedish expression used nationwide.
Yes, to describe how you handled a past challenge: 'När vi hamnade i en knipa med leveransen, så...'
Because you are 'inside' the situation, like being inside a trap.
Verwandte Redewendungen
sitta i klistret
synonymto be in a sticky situation
ha skägget i brevlådan
specialized formto be caught red-handed
ligga pyrt till
similarto be in a precarious position
ur askan i elden
builds onout of the frying pan into the fire
lösa en knipa
contrastto solve a pinch
