B2 Idiom तटस्थ

å ligge i kortene

to be in the cards

मतलब

To be likely to happen

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

Norwegians value 'forutsigbarhet' (predictability). This idiom is often used to show that one is sensible and has observed the logical flow of events. The card metaphor is common across Scandinavia (Swedish: 'ligga i korten', Danish: 'ligge i kortene'), reflecting shared cultural history with parlor games and fortune telling. In Norwegian social media, the phrase is sometimes used ironically when something extremely obvious happens, often accompanied by a crystal ball emoji 🔮. In Norwegian boardrooms, this phrase is a polite way to signal that a decision has already been effectively made by circumstances, even before the official vote.

🎯

Use it for 'I told you so'

It's a very natural way to say 'I saw this coming' without being too arrogant. Just say 'Det lå vel litt i kortene.'

⚠️

Ligge vs Legge

This is the most common error. Remember: The cards are already there (ligger). You aren't putting them there (legger).

मतलब

To be likely to happen

🎯

Use it for 'I told you so'

It's a very natural way to say 'I saw this coming' without being too arrogant. Just say 'Det lå vel litt i kortene.'

⚠️

Ligge vs Legge

This is the most common error. Remember: The cards are already there (ligger). You aren't putting them there (legger).

💬

Dialect variation

In Oslo and surrounding areas, you'll often hear 'korta' instead of 'kortene'. Both are correct in informal speech.

खुद को परखो

Fyll inn riktig form av verbet 'å ligge'.

Det har ______ i kortene lenge at de skulle flytte til utlandet.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: ligget

We use the present perfect 'har ligget' because the action started in the past and is still relevant.

Hvilken setning er mest naturlig?

Vennen din har trent hver dag i et år. Nå skal han løpe maraton.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Det ligger i kortene at han vil klare det.

The correct idiom uses 'ligger' and the preposition 'i'.

Match situasjonen med riktig bruk av idiom.

Situasjon: En politiker har hatt mange skandaler og må nå gå av.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Det lå i kortene at han måtte trekke seg.

Resignation after scandals is a predictable outcome, fitting the idiom perfectly.

Fullfør dialogen.

A: Tror du de kommer til å vinne prisen? B: Ja, med den innsatsen de har gjort, ______.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: ligger det i kortene

The phrase confirms the expectation based on their effort.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

Ligge vs. Legge

Ligge (State)
Det ligger i kortene It is in the cards
Legge (Action)
Legge kortene på bordet Lay cards on the table

अभ्यास बैंक

4 अभ्यास
Fyll inn riktig form av verbet 'å ligge'. Fill Blank B1

Det har ______ i kortene lenge at de skulle flytte til utlandet.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: ligget

We use the present perfect 'har ligget' because the action started in the past and is still relevant.

Hvilken setning er mest naturlig? Choose B2

Vennen din har trent hver dag i et år. Nå skal han løpe maraton.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Det ligger i kortene at han vil klare det.

The correct idiom uses 'ligger' and the preposition 'i'.

Match situasjonen med riktig bruk av idiom. situation_matching B2

Situasjon: En politiker har hatt mange skandaler og må nå gå av.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Det lå i kortene at han måtte trekke seg.

Resignation after scandals is a predictable outcome, fitting the idiom perfectly.

Fullfør dialogen. dialogue_completion B1

A: Tror du de kommer til å vinne prisen? B: Ja, med den innsatsen de har gjort, ______.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: ligger det i kortene

The phrase confirms the expectation based on their effort.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

It is neutral. You can use it with friends, but also in a professional email or a news article.

Yes, absolutely. 'Det lå i kortene at de ville tape' is very common.

'Sannsynlig' is just a statistical probability. 'Ligge i kortene' implies there were signs or a logical path leading to it.

No, that sounds like a translation error from German or another language. Always use 'ligger'.

Yes, as 'å liggje i korta'.

It can, but usually it just implies logical predictability in modern usage.

Yes, if there are clear signs like dark clouds.

Always 'i kortene'.

No, the idiom is fixed as 'i kortene' (the cards).

Use the past tense: 'Det lå i kortene'.

संबंधित मुहावरे

🔗

å ligge i lufta

similar

To be in the air / imminent

🔗

å se skriften på veggen

similar

To see the writing on the wall

🔗

å legge kortene på bordet

contrast

To lay one's cards on the table

🔗

være gitt

similar

To be a given / certain

🔗

ligge an til

builds on

To look like / be heading towards

क्या यह मददगार था?
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