Meaning
To stop progressing.
Cultural Background
Danes value 'fremdrift' (momentum) in meetings. If a meeting 'går i stå', it is common for someone to suggest a 'kaffepause' to reset the energy. The phrase is frequently used in news headlines to describe political gridlock, reflecting a public frustration with slow legislative processes. Danes can be reserved. If a conversation 'går i stå', they might not immediately try to fill the silence, which can be awkward for foreigners. In Danish driving schools, 'at gå i stå' is the technical term taught for stalling the engine, a common fear for new drivers on cobblestone streets.
Use it for mental blocks
When you forget a word in Danish, say 'Jeg gik lige i stå'. It sounds very natural and gives you a second to think.
Auxiliary Verb
Always use 'er' with 'gået i stå'. Saying 'har gået i stå' is a very common learner error.
Meaning
To stop progressing.
Use it for mental blocks
When you forget a word in Danish, say 'Jeg gik lige i stå'. It sounds very natural and gives you a second to think.
Auxiliary Verb
Always use 'er' with 'gået i stå'. Saying 'har gået i stå' is a very common learner error.
Don't fear the silence
In Denmark, a conversation 'going in stand' isn't always a disaster. Sometimes Danes just enjoy the quiet.
Test Yourself
Udfyld tomrummet med den rigtige form af 'at gå i stå'.
I går ______ min bil ______ midt på vejen.
Since the sentence starts with 'I går' (yesterday), we need the past tense 'gik'.
Hvilken sætning er korrekt?
Hvilken sætning beskriver en samtale, der stopper?
'Gik i stå' is the idiomatic way to describe a conversation dying out.
Færdiggør dialogen.
A: Hvorfor er du ikke færdig med din opgave? B: Jeg er desværre ______ ______ ______.
We need the present perfect 'er gået i stå' to describe a state that started in the past and continues now.
Match situationen med det rigtige udtryk.
Din computer fryser og du kan ikke klikke på noget.
When software freezes, it 'går i stå'. If it 'gik ud', it would have turned off.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Stå vs. Stykker
Practice Bank
4 exercisesI går ______ min bil ______ midt på vejen.
Since the sentence starts with 'I går' (yesterday), we need the past tense 'gik'.
Hvilken sætning beskriver en samtale, der stopper?
'Gik i stå' is the idiomatic way to describe a conversation dying out.
A: Hvorfor er du ikke færdig med din opgave? B: Jeg er desværre ______ ______ ______.
We need the present perfect 'er gået i stå' to describe a state that started in the past and continues now.
Din computer fryser og du kan ikke klikke på noget.
When software freezes, it 'går i stå'. If it 'gik ud', it would have turned off.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, use 'at stoppe' or 'at standse'. 'At gå i stå' is for processes or machines.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.
'Gået i stå' means stalled/stopped. 'Gået i stykker' means broken/damaged.
Yes, but usually in the sense of stopping while speaking or stopping their personal development.
'Projektet er gået i stå' or 'Projektet er kørt fast'.
Usually, yes, as it implies an unintended interruption of progress.
Yes, it's the perfect way to say your computer has frozen.
The state is called 'en standsning' or 'stagnation', but we usually just use the verb phrase.
The past tense is 'gik'. So: 'Det gik i stå'.
No, you must use the verb 'at gå'. You say 'Jeg er gået i stå'.
Related Phrases
at køre fast
similarTo get stuck in a task.
at gå i stykker
contrastTo break.
at stagnere
synonymTo stagnate.
at gå i gang
contrastTo start.
at gå i hårknude
specialized formTo reach a deadlock.
