Signification
To fight imaginary enemies or lost causes.
Contexte culturel
Swedes value 'saklighet' (objectivity). Accusing someone of fighting windmills is a common way to steer a discussion back to facts. The origin of the phrase. It's part of the national identity via Cervantes. Used to describe 'shadow boxing' or fighting bureaucracy that serves no purpose. The phrase is a bridge between high literature and everyday speech across Europe.
Use it in writing
This idiom is a great way to show high-level proficiency in Swedish essays or reports.
Don't be too mean
Calling someone's passion 'fighting windmills' can be very dismissive and hurtful.
Signification
To fight imaginary enemies or lost causes.
Use it in writing
This idiom is a great way to show high-level proficiency in Swedish essays or reports.
Don't be too mean
Calling someone's passion 'fighting windmills' can be very dismissive and hurtful.
Teste-toi
Fyll i rätt form av verbet 'slåss'.
Igår _______ han mot väderkvarnar hela kvällen.
Since the sentence starts with 'Igår' (Yesterday), we need the preterite form 'slogs'.
Vilken situation beskriver bäst att 'slåss mot väderkvarnar'?
Välj ett alternativ:
Fighting windmills involves attacking something imaginary.
Matcha verbet med rätt tid.
Dra streck mellan orden.
These are the correct forms of the deponent verb.
Slutför dialogen med rätt idiom.
A: Jag är rädd att spöken ska stjäla min bil! B: Men snälla, sluta ________________.
The fear of ghosts stealing a car is an imaginary threat.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesIgår _______ han mot väderkvarnar hela kvällen.
Since the sentence starts with 'Igår' (Yesterday), we need the preterite form 'slogs'.
Välj ett alternativ:
Fighting windmills involves attacking something imaginary.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the correct forms of the deponent verb.
A: Jag är rädd att spöken ska stjäla min bil! B: Men snälla, sluta ________________.
The fear of ghosts stealing a car is an imaginary threat.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, in 99% of cases. 'Slåss mot väderkvarnar' is the fixed form.
No, it is strictly metaphorical.
It can be. It implies the person is acting irrationally or wasting time.
Yes, it is a standard part of the school curriculum and general culture.
'Slåss' is more aggressive; 'kämpa' is more about a long-term struggle.
It's grammatically possible but sounds like you are literally fighting one building.
'Jaga spöken' is the closest informal equivalent.
It is neutral to formal. Very common in newspapers.
Rarely. It might be used to describe a 'noble but doomed' hero, but usually, it's a critique.
VAY-der-KVAR-nar. Make sure to pronounce the 'v' clearly.
Expressions liées
jaga spöken
similarTo chase ghosts / non-existent threats.
slåss för en förlorad sak
similarTo fight for a lost cause.
pissa i motvind
contrastTo pee in a headwind.
ana ugglor i mossen
builds onTo suspect something is wrong.
