Significado
To wait calmly.
Contexto cultural
In Norway, 'å smøre seg med tålmodighet' is often linked to the concept of 'dugnad' or collective waiting. During the COVID-19 pandemic, government officials frequently used this phrase to ask the public for continued compliance with restrictions. The phrase is shared across Sweden (väpna sig med tålamod) and Denmark (smøre sig med tålmodighed), showing a unified North Germanic metaphorical approach to patience. In Norwegian workplaces, this phrase is a polite way to say 'stop asking me for updates'. It shifts the responsibility of the wait onto the person asking. Hikers often use this when waiting for the weather to clear in the mountains. It's part of the 'respect the nature' mindset.
Use it for empathy
When someone is frustrated by a delay, saying 'Du må bare smøre deg med tålmodighet' in a soft voice shows you understand their pain.
Don't forget 'seg'
Without the reflexive pronoun, the phrase loses its meaning. Always check who is doing the smearing!
Significado
To wait calmly.
Use it for empathy
When someone is frustrated by a delay, saying 'Du må bare smøre deg med tålmodighet' in a soft voice shows you understand their pain.
Don't forget 'seg'
Without the reflexive pronoun, the phrase loses its meaning. Always check who is doing the smearing!
The 'NAV' context
If you are talking about Norwegian bureaucracy, this is the #1 phrase you will hear and use.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing reflexive pronoun and preposition.
Jeg må smøre ___ ___ tålmodighet.
Since the subject is 'Jeg', the reflexive pronoun must be 'meg', and the idiom always uses 'med'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to tell a friend to be patient?
Vennen din klager over at bussen er sen. Hva sier du?
This is the standard idiomatic expression for this situation.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the idiom.
A: Når får vi vite hvem som vant? B: Juryen bruker lang tid, så vi må ___ ___ ___ ___.
The subject is 'vi', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'oss'.
Match the situation to the best use of the idiom.
Match: 1. Stuck in traffic, 2. Waiting for a cake to bake, 3. Waiting for a 5-year plan to finish.
The idiom is versatile and applies to short-term, medium-term, and long-term waiting.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosJeg må smøre ___ ___ tålmodighet.
Since the subject is 'Jeg', the reflexive pronoun must be 'meg', and the idiom always uses 'med'.
Vennen din klager over at bussen er sen. Hva sier du?
This is the standard idiomatic expression for this situation.
A: Når får vi vite hvem som vant? B: Juryen bruker lang tid, så vi må ___ ___ ___ ___.
The subject is 'vi', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'oss'.
Match: 1. Stuck in traffic, 2. Waiting for a cake to bake, 3. Waiting for a 5-year plan to finish.
The idiom is versatile and applies to short-term, medium-term, and long-term waiting.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your grandmother, or your best friend.
No, you must use the noun 'tålmodighet'. 'Tålmodig' is an adjective.
Forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'seg/meg/deg'.
No, it's usually for waits that are long enough to be annoying (minutes, hours, or months).
Not really, though in very casual speech, people might just say 'Vær tålmodig'.
No, it actually implies you are trying NOT to be angry.
Yes, it's very common when explaining that a process will take time.
Toll-moo-dee-het. The 'å' is like 'o' in 'lord'.
Yes, Swedish and Danish have very similar versions.
It means to smear, grease, or lubricate.
Frases relacionadas
å ha is i magen
similarTo stay calm and cool-headed in a difficult situation.
å ta tiden til hjelp
similarTo let time solve a problem.
å væpne seg med tålmodighet
synonymTo arm oneself with patience.
tålmodighet er en dyd
builds onPatience is a virtue.
