Signification
Speaking too technically.
Contexte culturel
Norwegians value 'klarspråk' (plain language). Government agencies like NAV and Skatteetaten have specific goals to avoid speaking over the heads of citizens. The 'Law of Jante' influences this idiom; appearing too intellectual can be seen as trying to be 'better than others'. In Norwegian universities, there is a strong movement for 'formidling' (outreach), where researchers are encouraged to not speak over the heads of the public. Flat hierarchy in Norwegian offices means employees often feel free to tell their bosses if they are speaking over their heads.
Use it to be polite
Saying 'Du snakker over hodet på meg' is often more polite than saying 'Du er dårlig til å forklare' (You are bad at explaining).
The Silent T
Remember that the 't' in 'hodet' is silent. If you pronounce it, you will sound very foreign or like you are reading from an old book.
Signification
Speaking too technically.
Use it to be polite
Saying 'Du snakker over hodet på meg' is often more polite than saying 'Du er dårlig til å forklare' (You are bad at explaining).
The Silent T
Remember that the 't' in 'hodet' is silent. If you pronounce it, you will sound very foreign or like you are reading from an old book.
Plain Language
In Norway, 'Klarspråk' is a big deal. If you can explain something simply, you are considered more competent than if you use big words.
Teste-toi
Fyll inn de manglende ordene i idiomet.
Legen snakket over ______ på pasienten.
Vi bruker alltid bestemt form 'hodet' i dette idiomet.
Hva betyr det hvis noen snakker over hodet på deg?
Hva er den riktige betydningen?
Idiomet refererer til kompleksiteten i språket.
Hvilken situasjon passer best til idiomet?
Velg situasjonen der man 'snakker over hodet på noen'.
Dette er et ekstremt eksempel på en mismatch i nivå.
Fullfør dialogen.
A: 'Jeg forstår ikke hva du mener med kognitiv dissonans.' B: 'Beklager, jeg ______.'
Dette er den naturlige responsen når man har vært for teknisk.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesLegen snakket over ______ på pasienten.
Vi bruker alltid bestemt form 'hodet' i dette idiomet.
Hva er den riktige betydningen?
Idiomet refererer til kompleksiteten i språket.
Velg situasjonen der man 'snakker over hodet på noen'.
Dette er et ekstremt eksempel på en mismatch i nivå.
A: 'Jeg forstår ikke hva du mener med kognitiv dissonans.' B: 'Beklager, jeg ______.'
Dette er den naturlige responsen når man har vært for teknisk.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot necessarily. It depends on your tone. It can be a helpful observation or a frustrated complaint.
Yes, it is very common in book reviews or critiques of articles.
'Snakke' describes the action of the speaker. 'Gå' describes the experience of the listener (it went over my head).
Stick with 'hodet'. It's a fixed idiom.
Yes, it's very common to say you shouldn't talk over the heads of children.
No. Mansplaining is explaining something obvious in a condescending way. 'Snakke over hodet' is explaining something too complex.
'Ikke snakk over hodet på meg.'
You could say 'Det der er helt gresk for meg' (That is completely Greek to me).
Yes, to show you value clear communication. 'Jeg prøver å unngå å snakke over hodet på kundene.'
Yes, this is a universal Norwegian idiom.
Expressions liées
å gå over hodet på noen
similarTo not be understood by someone.
å snakke gresk
synonymTo speak in an incomprehensible way.
å snakke rett fra leveren
contrastTo speak very directly and honestly.
å forenkle
contrastTo simplify.
