Signification
To go too far.
Contexte culturel
The 'blue cupboard' was a status symbol in 19th-century Swedish farmhouses. It was painted with expensive Prussian blue pigment. The movie 'Göta Kanal' (1981) is essential viewing to understand Swedish humor and why this phrase is so popular. Swedes value 'vett och etikett' (manners). This phrase is the ultimate way to describe someone who lacks them. While 'skita' is vulgar, this idiom is so common that it's often used by people who would never normally use swear words.
Watch the vulgarity
Even though it's a common idiom, 'skita' is still a word for 'to shit'. Use it with caution around children or in professional settings.
Perfect for sports
If you want to sound like a real Swede while watching football, use this when the opposing team makes a mistake.
Signification
To go too far.
Watch the vulgarity
Even though it's a common idiom, 'skita' is still a word for 'to shit'. Use it with caution around children or in professional settings.
Perfect for sports
If you want to sound like a real Swede while watching football, use this when the opposing team makes a mistake.
The Movie Connection
If you mention the movie 'Göta Kanal' when using this phrase, Swedes will be very impressed by your cultural knowledge.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing verb in the correct past tense form.
Han ___ i det blå skåpet när han glömde chefens födelsedag.
The sentence describes a past event ('when he forgot'), so the preterite form 'sket' is required.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
When would you say someone 'skitit i det blå skåpet'?
The idiom refers to a major social blunder or overstepping a boundary.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: Jag råkade radera hela databasen! B: Oj... Nu har du verkligen ___.
Deleting a database is a massive mistake, making this the perfect idiom.
Match the Swedish phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
All these are related but 'skita i det blå skåpet' is the most colorful/informal.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
When to use 'Skita i det blå skåpet'
Social
- • Bad jokes
- • Revealing secrets
- • Insults
Sports
- • Own goals
- • Missing a penalty
- • Bad coaching
Personal
- • Forgetting anniversaries
- • Breaking something valuable
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesHan ___ i det blå skåpet när han glömde chefens födelsedag.
The sentence describes a past event ('when he forgot'), so the preterite form 'sket' is required.
When would you say someone 'skitit i det blå skåpet'?
The idiom refers to a major social blunder or overstepping a boundary.
A: Jag råkade radera hela databasen! B: Oj... Nu har du verkligen ___.
Deleting a database is a massive mistake, making this the perfect idiom.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
All these are related but 'skita i det blå skåpet' is the most colorful/informal.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsIt's informal, but not usually considered a 'bad' swear word when used in this idiom. It's more like saying 'screwed up' in English.
Because blue cupboards were expensive status symbols in old Swedish homes. Ruining one was a big deal.
No, the idiom is fixed. Changing the color makes it sound like a mistake.
The perfect tense: 'har skitit'. We usually talk about mistakes that have already happened.
Expressions liées
Att trampa i klaveret
similarTo make a social gaffe.
Att gå för långt
synonymTo go too far.
Nu är det kokta fläsket stekt
similarNow we are in big trouble.
Att göra bort sig
similarTo make a fool of oneself.
