Significado
To have a sudden setback.
Contexto cultural
The TV show 'Luksusfellen' has made this phrase a household term for financial irresponsibility. It's often used with a bit of 'galgenhumor' (gallows humor). In Norwegian workplaces, admitting you 'gikk på en smell' is often seen as more honest and trustworthy than making excuses. Commentators use this when an athlete starts too fast and loses all energy at the end of a race (especially in cross-country skiing). Norwegians are often reserved. Saying you 'gikk på en smell' on a date is a common way to laugh off an awkward encounter.
Use 'skikkelig'
Add 'skikkelig' before 'smell' to sound more like a native speaker when describing a big mistake.
False Friend
Never use 'smell' to talk about how something smells. Use 'lukt' instead!
Significado
To have a sudden setback.
Use 'skikkelig'
Add 'skikkelig' before 'smell' to sound more like a native speaker when describing a big mistake.
False Friend
Never use 'smell' to talk about how something smells. Use 'lukt' instead!
The 'Luksusfellen' connection
If you want to understand this phrase perfectly, watch 5 minutes of the show 'Luksusfellen' on YouTube.
Humility
Using this phrase about yourself makes you seem relatable and humble to Norwegians.
Ponte a prueba
Which sentence correctly uses the idiom to describe overspending?
Jeg ville spare penger, men...
Option 'a' uses the correct preposition 'på' and the indefinite 'en smell'.
Fill in the missing verb in the past tense.
I fjor _____ vi på en skikkelig smell med oppussingen av huset.
The sentence refers to 'last year' (i fjor), so we need the past tense 'gikk'.
Match the situation to the correct variation of the phrase.
1. Small mistake. 2. Huge failure. 3. Physical hit.
'Blemme' is small, 'Kjempesmell' is huge, and 'Karamell' is often used for physical hits in sports.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Skal du være med på festen? B: Nei, jeg har jobbet 12 timer hver dag denne uken, så jeg er redd for å...
The speaker is worried about burnout/exhaustion, so 'gå på en smell' is perfect.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Smell vs. Blemme
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosJeg ville spare penger, men...
Option 'a' uses the correct preposition 'på' and the indefinite 'en smell'.
I fjor _____ vi på en skikkelig smell med oppussingen av huset.
The sentence refers to 'last year' (i fjor), so we need the past tense 'gikk'.
1. Small mistake. 2. Huge failure. 3. Physical hit.
'Blemme' is small, 'Kjempesmell' is huge, and 'Karamell' is often used for physical hits in sports.
A: Skal du være med på festen? B: Nei, jeg har jobbet 12 timer hver dag denne uken, så jeg er redd for å...
The speaker is worried about burnout/exhaustion, so 'gå på en smell' is perfect.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, but usually only if it's a minor 'fender bender'. For a serious crash, use 'bilulykke'.
No, it's not rude. It's informal but very socially acceptable.
'Kjempe-' means giant, so a 'kjempesmell' is a much larger failure.
No, you must use the verb 'å gå på'. You cannot 'be' a bang.
Yes, very often to describe projects that went over budget.
No, it can also mean physical exhaustion or social mistakes.
You can say 'Jeg gikk på en smell' or 'Jeg møtte veggen'.
Yes, it is a universal Norwegian idiom used in all dialects.
Yes: 'Jeg er redd for at jeg kommer til å gå på en smell.'
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but 'å ha suksess' (to have success) works.
Frases relacionadas
Gå på en blemme
similarTo make a minor mistake.
Gå i fella
similarTo walk into a trap.
Møte veggen
synonymTo hit the wall (burnout).
Gå rett vest
similarTo go completely wrong.
Drite på draget
slangTo mess up badly.
