Signification
To lose respect or dignity.
Contexte culturel
In Sweden, losing face is often linked to 'Jantelagen'. If you act like you are superior and then fail, the 'face-loss' is seen as a natural consequence of your arrogance. The concept of 'face' is much more formal and can affect an entire family's reputation, not just the individual's. In international business, 'saving face' for your partner is a key negotiation tactic to maintain a long-term relationship. Diplomatic language is designed specifically to allow world leaders to change their minds without 'tappa ansiktet'.
Use it in Business
If you want to sound professional in Swedish, use this phrase instead of 'göra bort sig' when discussing company reputation.
Don't use 'förlora'
Even though 'lose' is 'förlora', saying 'förlora ansiktet' sounds like a non-native speaker translating literally from English.
Signification
To lose respect or dignity.
Use it in Business
If you want to sound professional in Swedish, use this phrase instead of 'göra bort sig' when discussing company reputation.
Don't use 'förlora'
Even though 'lose' is 'förlora', saying 'förlora ansiktet' sounds like a non-native speaker translating literally from English.
The Antonym
Always remember 'rädda ansiktet'. It's just as common and very useful for resolving conflicts.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'tappa'.
Han ______ ansiktet inför alla sina kollegor igår.
The word 'igår' (yesterday) indicates the past tense.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose the best option:
The idiom refers to a loss of reputation, not a physical action.
Match the Swedish phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the pairs:
These are the standard translations.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Varför ser chefen så arg ut? B: Han blev rättad av praktikanten inför kunden. Han känner nog att han har ______.
'Tappat ansiktet' fits the context of losing dignity/authority.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesHan ______ ansiktet inför alla sina kollegor igår.
The word 'igår' (yesterday) indicates the past tense.
Choose the best option:
The idiom refers to a loss of reputation, not a physical action.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the standard translations.
A: Varför ser chefen så arg ut? B: Han blev rättad av praktikanten inför kunden. Han känner nog att han har ______.
'Tappat ansiktet' fits the context of losing dignity/authority.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's not rude, but it is a serious observation. You wouldn't usually say it *to* someone's face unless you are confronting them.
Yes! 'Jag kände att jag tappade ansiktet' is a common way to express that you felt humiliated.
'Skämma ut sig' is about the feeling of shame; 'tappa ansiktet' is about the loss of social status.
Rarely. You would say 'De tappade ansiktet' (They lost face), keeping 'ansiktet' in the singular as a collective concept, or 'De tappade sina ansikten' if you want to be very literal (but that's rare).
No, it must be 'ansiktet' (the face).
It is neutral to formal. It's used in newspapers and by CEOs, but also in serious personal conversations.
Not exactly. 'Lose your cool' is 'tappa fattningen'. 'Tappa ansiktet' is about what others think of you.
Yes, very common in business news regarding PR disasters.
Yes, it's one of the top 500 most useful idioms in Swedish.
Jag räddade ansiktet.
Expressions liées
rädda ansiktet
contrastTo save face; to avoid humiliation.
göra bort sig
similarTo make a fool of oneself.
skämma ut sig
similarTo embarrass or shame oneself publicly.
tappa masken
similarTo lose one's composure or reveal one's true feelings.
