at sidde med Sorteper
to hold the short straw
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when someone is left carrying the blame or the burden after everyone else has escaped.
- Means: Being the unlucky person left with a problem or responsibility.
- Used in: Business failures, political scandals, or group projects gone wrong.
- Don't confuse: With 'at trække det korteste strå' which is more about bad luck.
Explanation at your level:
معنی
To be left with the responsibility or blame.
زمینه فرهنگی
The card game Sorteper is a staple of Danish childhood. Almost every Danish child learns this game, which is why the idiom is so deeply embedded in the national consciousness. It's often the first time children experience the 'unfairness' of a random loss. In Danish workplaces, there is a high degree of trust. However, when things go wrong, the 'Sorteper' idiom is used to criticize 'ansvarsfralæggelse' (avoidance of responsibility). It is a culturally significant way to call out unfairness without being overly aggressive. Danish political commentators use this phrase almost weekly. It is a key part of the 'political theater' vocabulary in Denmark, used to describe the fallout of negotiations in the parliament (Folketinget). There is a growing awareness of the name 'Sorteper'. While not widely considered offensive in Denmark yet, some modern versions of the game use different characters (like a monster or an animal) to avoid the 'Black Peter' imagery.
Use it in Business
If you want to sound like a native in a Danish office, use this phrase when discussing project risks. It shows high-level cultural awareness.
Don't over-pluralize
Even if multiple people are blamed, we usually say they 'sidder med Sorteper' (singular), as it refers to the single 'loser' card.
معنی
To be left with the responsibility or blame.
Use it in Business
If you want to sound like a native in a Danish office, use this phrase when discussing project risks. It shows high-level cultural awareness.
Don't over-pluralize
Even if multiple people are blamed, we usually say they 'sidder med Sorteper' (singular), as it refers to the single 'loser' card.
The 'Black Peter' debate
Be aware that some younger Danes might find the term slightly dated due to its name, though it is still widely used in all media.
خودت رو بسنج
Udfyld det manglende ord i sætningen.
Da alle de andre investorer trak deres penge ud, endte han med at sidde med _______.
Det korrekte idiom er 'at sidde med Sorteper'.
Hvilken betydning er korrekt for 'at sidde med Sorteper'?
Hvad betyder det, hvis en politiker 'sidder med Sorteper'?
Idiomet betyder at stå tilbage med ansvaret eller skylden.
Match situationen med det rigtige udtryk.
Tre venner bestiller pizza. To af dem går uden at betale. Den sidste ven skal betale for det hele.
Situationen beskriver en person, der er efterladt med en regning/ansvar, som de andre burde have delt.
🎉 امتیاز: /3
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
سوالات متداول
10 سوالYes, but 'at sidde med Sorteper' is more common when describing the ongoing state of being blamed.
Generally no, but like many old idioms, its name is occasionally discussed in the context of political correctness. In 99% of cases, it's fine.
Yes, 'Sorteper' is always an unwanted card/burden. You never want to sit with it.
Absolutely. 'Jeg sad med Sorteper' is a common way to complain about being left with a task.
Jeg 'sad' med Sorteper.
It's a bit informal for an interview, but perfect for a casual chat with colleagues.
Very close, but 'Sorteper' implies a game or a process where the blame was passed around first.
Yes, it is very common in journalism and opinion pieces.
No, 'Sorteper' is a proper noun in this context. You don't say 'Sorteperer'.
Yes, Swedish has 'Svarte Petter' and Norwegian has 'Svarte-Per' with similar meanings.
عبارات مرتبط
at stå med aben
synonymTo be left with the problem/responsibility.
at trække det korteste strå
similarTo be the unlucky one.
at bære nag
contrastTo hold a grudge.
at få aben placeret
builds onTo successfully pass the blame to someone else.
کجا استفاده کنیم
Office Project Failure
Mette: Hvem har ansvaret for at budgettet skred?
Lars: Det ser ud til, at projektlederen ender med at sidde med Sorteper.
Restaurant Bill
Søren: Hvor gik alle hen? Vi har ikke betalt endnu!
Mads: Fedt, så sidder vi to med Sorteper.
Political Scandal
Journalist: Mener du, at ministeren forsøger at give embedsmændene Sorteper?
Ekspert: Ja, det er en tydelig ansvarsfralæggelse.
Group Assignment
Elev A: Jeg har ikke tid til at lave konklusionen.
Elev B: Så det er mig, der skal sidde med Sorteper igen?
Broken Item at Home
Mor: Hvem har ødelagt vasen?
Barn: Det var hunden! Jeg vil ikke sidde med Sorteper!
Stock Market Crash
Investor A: Solgte du dine aktier i tide?
Investor B: Nej, jeg sad med Sorteper, da markedet faldt.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Peter' as the person who stayed too long at the party and now has to clean up the whole mess alone.
Visual Association
Imagine a circle of people passing a hot, black coal (the Sorteper card) around. Suddenly the music stops, and you are the only one holding it while everyone else points at you.
Rhyme
Når de andre er gået hver til sit, sidder du med Sorteper og alt dit skidt.
Story
You are playing a game of cards with your colleagues. One by one, they find their pairs and leave the table with a smile. Finally, the room is empty, the lights go out, and you are looking down at the only card left in your hand: the Black Peter. You realize the 'game' was actually the office project that failed.
Word Web
چالش
Try to use the phrase in a sentence about a group project or a shared bill at a restaurant today.
In Other Languages
den Schwarzen Peter zugeschoben bekommen
German focuses more on the act of passing the blame, Danish on the state of holding it.
to be left holding the bag
The English idiom has a slightly more 'criminal' or 'scam' undertone.
se retrouver med le mistigri
The name of the card/game is different.
pagar el pato
Spanish uses an animal metaphor (duck) instead of a card game.
babinuki (ババ抜き)
It is mostly used literally for the game, not figuratively for business/politics.
kabsh al-fida (كبش الفداء)
Much more formal and religious/historical in origin.
bēi hēi guò (背黑锅)
The metaphor is a cooking pot rather than a card.
ficar com o mico
The animal (monkey) is the central figure.
Easily Confused
Both involve losing or being unlucky.
Use 'strå' for random bad luck. Use 'Sorteper' when blame or a specific burden is involved.
Both use a 'holding something' metaphor.
'Rent mel' is about being honest/innocent. 'Sorteper' is about being blamed/unlucky.
سوالات متداول (10)
Yes, but 'at sidde med Sorteper' is more common when describing the ongoing state of being blamed.
Generally no, but like many old idioms, its name is occasionally discussed in the context of political correctness. In 99% of cases, it's fine.
Yes, 'Sorteper' is always an unwanted card/burden. You never want to sit with it.
Absolutely. 'Jeg sad med Sorteper' is a common way to complain about being left with a task.
Jeg 'sad' med Sorteper.
It's a bit informal for an interview, but perfect for a casual chat with colleagues.
Very close, but 'Sorteper' implies a game or a process where the blame was passed around first.
Yes, it is very common in journalism and opinion pieces.
No, 'Sorteper' is a proper noun in this context. You don't say 'Sorteperer'.
Yes, Swedish has 'Svarte Petter' and Norwegian has 'Svarte-Per' with similar meanings.
