Signification
Not worth the effort.
Contexte culturel
Danes value 'effektivitet' (efficiency). Wasting someone's 'ulejlighed' is often seen as more offensive than wasting their money. In Danish offices, 'spildt ulejlighed' is often used during 'debriefings' to identify where processes failed without necessarily blaming a specific person. The word 'ulejlighed' is central to Danish politeness. By calling a waste 'spildt ulejlighed', you are acknowledging that the person actually took 'trouble' for you. Modern Danes often link 'spildt ulejlighed' to environmental waste—doing something that harms the planet for no gain.
Use it for sympathy
If a friend tells you about a failed task, saying 'Sikke en spildt ulejlighed' shows you understand their hard work was wasted.
Don't over-apologize
While 'ulejlighed' is used in apologies, 'spildt ulejlighed' is a statement of fact about futility, not an apology itself.
Signification
Not worth the effort.
Use it for sympathy
If a friend tells you about a failed task, saying 'Sikke en spildt ulejlighed' shows you understand their hard work was wasted.
Don't over-apologize
While 'ulejlighed' is used in apologies, 'spildt ulejlighed' is a statement of fact about futility, not an apology itself.
The Danish 'Pyt'
Often followed by the word 'Pyt' (never mind). 'Det var en spildt ulejlighed... pyt med det!'
Teste-toi
Vælg den rigtige form af sætningen.
Jeg bagte en kage, men ingen kom til festen. Det var en...
Vi bruger adjektivet 'spildt' sammen med navneordet 'ulejlighed'.
Udfyld det manglende ord.
Det er en spildt ________ at vaske vinduer, når det sner.
Sætningen 'en spildt ulejlighed' er en fast vending.
Hvilken situation passer bedst til udtrykket?
Hvornår ville du sige 'Det er en spildt ulejlighed'?
Her har du brugt kræfter (cyklet) uden at opnå noget (du kan ikke komme ind).
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesJeg bagte en kage, men ingen kom til festen. Det var en...
Vi bruger adjektivet 'spildt' sammen med navneordet 'ulejlighed'.
Det er en spildt ________ at vaske vinduer, når det sner.
Sætningen 'en spildt ulejlighed' er en fast vending.
Hvornår ville du sige 'Det er en spildt ulejlighed'?
Her har du brugt kræfter (cyklet) uden at opnå noget (du kan ikke komme ind).
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's generally neutral. However, don't use it to describe a gift or a kind gesture someone made for you.
No, it only describes actions or situations, not people.
'Spild af tid' is more blunt. 'Spildt ulejlighed' acknowledges the effort (the trouble) that was taken.
Yes, it is common in business emails and reports to describe failed attempts.
It is almost always used in the singular as a general concept.
Focus on the 'lej' sounding like 'lie'. The ending 'hed' is like 'head' but with a soft 'd'.
People sometimes just say 'Det var spildt' (It was wasted).
Usually more resignation or annoyance than actual anger.
Yes, like walking to the kitchen and forgetting why you went there.
Yes, it's a great idiom to show CEFR A2/B1 proficiency in Danish.
Expressions liées
Spild af tid
synonymWaste of time
At gøre sig ulejlighed
builds onTo take the trouble
Forgæves
similarIn vain
Nyttesløst
synonymUseless
