뜻
To be clumsy with hands.
문화적 배경
The 'Gör-det-själv' (DIY) culture is a matter of national pride. Admitting you have 'tummen mitt i handen' is a common way to use self-deprecating humor to fit in. Similar to Sweden, Finland values manual labor. They have a similar expression 'Peukalo keskellä kämmentä' which means exactly the same thing. Norway also uses 'Tommeltotten midt i hånda'. The shared Scandinavian history of woodworking makes this a universal regional idiom. In modern Sweden, the phrase is increasingly used for 'digital unhandiness,' such as being unable to set up a router or use an app.
Use it for self-deprecation
In Sweden, it's very charming to admit you're not good at something. Use this phrase to instantly sound more native and humble.
Don't pluralize
Never say 'tummarna mitt i händerna'. It sounds like a medical condition rather than an idiom.
뜻
To be clumsy with hands.
Use it for self-deprecation
In Sweden, it's very charming to admit you're not good at something. Use this phrase to instantly sound more native and humble.
Don't pluralize
Never say 'tummarna mitt i händerna'. It sounds like a medical condition rather than an idiom.
The IKEA connection
If you are at IKEA, you will almost certainly hear someone use this phrase. It's the unofficial slogan of flat-pack frustration.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Jag kan inte snickra, jag har ______ mitt i ______.
The correct idiom is 'tummen mitt i handen'.
Which sentence means the person is GOOD at fixing things?
Vem är händig?
Negating the idiom ('inte') means the person is skilled.
Match the situation to the best use of the idiom.
Situation: Du råkar slå sönder en vas när du försöker flytta den.
You use the idiom to describe your own clumsiness.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: Kan du hjälpa mig att bygga altanen? B: Nej, tyvärr, jag ______.
The verb 'ha' is used with this idiom.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
4 연습 문제Jag kan inte snickra, jag har ______ mitt i ______.
The correct idiom is 'tummen mitt i handen'.
Vem är händig?
Negating the idiom ('inte') means the person is skilled.
Situation: Du råkar slå sönder en vas när du försöker flytta den.
You use the idiom to describe your own clumsiness.
A: Kan du hjälpa mig att bygga altanen? B: Nej, tyvärr, jag ______.
The verb 'ha' is used with this idiom.
🎉 점수: /4
자주 묻는 질문
5 질문It's a mild tease. It's not a 'bad word,' but don't say it to your boss if they are trying to fix something!
Usually no. It's specifically for manual tasks like building, fixing, or crafting.
The most common opposite is 'att vara händig' or 'att inte ha tummen mitt i handen'.
Because if it were in the middle of your palm, you couldn't grip anything. It's a visual metaphor for being useless with tools.
It is always 'i handen' (in the hand).
관련 표현
Hålla tummarna
similarTo cross your fingers (for luck).
Vara händig
contrastTo be handy/skilled with hands.
Ha tio tummar
synonymTo be all thumbs.
Sätta tummen i ögat på någon
specialized formTo put pressure on someone.
