Signification
to benefit from others' previous hard work
Contexte culturel
The concept of 'Dugnad' (voluntary work) makes this idiom particularly powerful. If you don't contribute to the work, coming to the 'set table' is seen as a breach of social duty. Janteloven (The Law of Jante) influences this phrase. It is often used to keep people humble by reminding them that their success is built on others' work. In Norwegian business, 'å legge til rette' (to facilitate) is a virtue. A good leader leaves a 'dekket bord' for their successor as a sign of professionalism. It is a very common phrase used by parents to remind children of the effort put into home life.
Use it to give credit
If you want to be humble in a new job, say: 'Jeg må takke min forgjenger; jeg har virkelig kommet til dekket bord.'
Watch your tone
If you say this to someone who worked hard, they will be very offended. Only use it when the lack of effort is obvious.
Signification
to benefit from others' previous hard work
Use it to give credit
If you want to be humble in a new job, say: 'Jeg må takke min forgjenger; jeg har virkelig kommet til dekket bord.'
Watch your tone
If you say this to someone who worked hard, they will be very offended. Only use it when the lack of effort is obvious.
The 'Dugnad' connection
Remember that in Norway, 'doing it yourself' is a high virtue. This idiom is the opposite of that virtue.
Teste-toi
Fyll inn de manglende ordene i uttrykket.
Da han begynte i den nye jobben, trengte han ikke å planlegge noe. Han kom til ______ ______.
Uttrykket er 'å komme til dekket bord' i ubestemt form entall.
Hvilken situasjon passer best for dette uttrykket?
Hvilken person 'kommer til dekket bord'?
Uttrykket brukes når man overtar noe som allerede er en suksess.
Fullfør dialogen med riktig form av verbet 'å komme'.
A: Var det mye jobb å starte prosjektet? B: Nei, de andre hadde gjort alt, så jeg ______ til dekket bord.
Siden handlingen skjedde i fortiden, bruker vi preteritum 'kom'.
Match uttrykket med riktig betydning.
Hva betyr det egentlig å 'komme til dekket bord'?
Dette er den figurative betydningen av idiomet.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesDa han begynte i den nye jobben, trengte han ikke å planlegge noe. Han kom til ______ ______.
Uttrykket er 'å komme til dekket bord' i ubestemt form entall.
Hvilken person 'kommer til dekket bord'?
Uttrykket brukes når man overtar noe som allerede er en suksess.
A: Var det mye jobb å starte prosjektet? B: Nei, de andre hadde gjort alt, så jeg ______ til dekket bord.
Siden handlingen skjedde i fortiden, bruker vi preteritum 'kom'.
Hva betyr det egentlig å 'komme til dekket bord'?
Dette er den figurative betydningen av idiomet.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt can be both. It's positive when you are grateful for someone's help, but negative when you are criticizing someone for being lazy or privileged.
No. A 'set table' implies order and readiness. If you inherit a mess, you might say you 'arvet et kaos' (inherited a chaos) instead.
Only if it's the infinitive. 'Jeg kom til dekket bord' (I came...) doesn't need it.
Yes, it is very common in newspapers and business reports.
There isn't one single idiom, but 'å starte med to tomme hender' (to start with two empty hands) is a good contrast.
No, that would mean 'the set table' (definite), which sounds wrong in this idiom. Keep it 'dekket bord'.
Not at all. It can be about a clean house, a finished school project, or a well-organized computer folder.
You say 'Jeg dekker bordet'.
Yes, it is a standard idiom used across all dialects.
Yes, if they have prepared everything for a date, you can say it as a compliment.
Expressions liées
å få det inn med teskje
similarTo have something explained very simply.
å få alt servert på et sølvfat
similarTo get everything on a silver platter.
å sitte med hendene i fanget
contrastTo sit with one's hands in one's lap (doing nothing).
å legge til rette
builds onTo prepare or facilitate.
