Significado
To be occupied with many tasks.
Contexto cultural
The phrase reflects the Danish value of 'flid' (diligence). It is important to be busy, but not so busy that you lose your 'overskud' (excess energy/calm). Understatement is a key linguistic feature. Saying you have 'enough' to do often means you are actually quite overwhelmed, but you don't want to complain. In Danish offices, this phrase is a polite boundary-setter. It respects the egalitarian structure where everyone's time is valued. The phrase connects modern Danes to their farming ancestors who 'looked after' (så til) their animals every day.
Use it for 'No'
It is the most polite way to say 'no' to a request in a Danish office. It sounds much better than 'Jeg har ikke tid' (I don't have time).
Don't over-emphasize
If you say it with too much drama, it can sound like you are complaining, which is generally avoided in Danish culture.
Significado
To be occupied with many tasks.
Use it for 'No'
It is the most polite way to say 'no' to a request in a Danish office. It sounds much better than 'Jeg har ikke tid' (I don't have time).
Don't over-emphasize
If you say it with too much drama, it can sound like you are complaining, which is generally avoided in Danish culture.
The 'Nok' Nuance
Remember that 'nok' here means 'plenty'. It's a classic example of Danish understatement.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Jeg kan ikke tale nu, jeg har ____ at ____ til.
The correct idiom is 'nok at se til'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly to mean 'I am busy'?
Vælg den rigtige sætning:
Sentence C uses the correct verb 'have', the correct quantifier 'nok', and the correct preposition 'til'.
Match the situation to the most appropriate use of the phrase.
Situation: You are a parent of three kids and someone asks how your weekend was.
Option B is a natural, idiomatic way to describe a busy weekend with children.
Complete the dialogue between two colleagues.
A: Kan du hjælpe mig med denne opgave? B: Det ville jeg gerne, men ____.
Option A is the standard polite way to decline a request due to a full workload.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Travlt vs. Nok at se til
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosJeg kan ikke tale nu, jeg har ____ at ____ til.
The correct idiom is 'nok at se til'.
Vælg den rigtige sætning:
Sentence C uses the correct verb 'have', the correct quantifier 'nok', and the correct preposition 'til'.
Situation: You are a parent of three kids and someone asks how your weekend was.
Option B is a natural, idiomatic way to describe a busy weekend with children.
A: Kan du hjælpe mig med denne opgave? B: Det ville jeg gerne, men ____.
Option A is the standard polite way to decline a request due to a full workload.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
14 preguntasYes! You can have 'nok at se til' with a fun hobby or a new baby. It just means you are occupied.
It is neutral. You can use it in almost any situation in Denmark.
'Travlt' is about speed and stress. 'Nok at se til' is about the volume of tasks.
You can, but it's not the standard idiom. Stick to 'nok' for a more native sound.
No, it can be chores, family, or even just a busy social life.
It's a short, sharp 'teel' sound. Don't drag it out.
Yes, very frequently in emails, news articles, and literature.
No, it implies a collection of tasks that keep you busy over time.
Yes, 'at have sygt meget om ørerne' is a more slangy/informal way to say it.
Idioms are fixed. 'Se til' is the historical form and cannot be changed.
Not necessarily. It's often just a statement of fact about one's life.
Yes, to describe how you handle a high workload.
Yes, it is a timeless expression used by all ages.
You can say 'Jeg har alt for meget at se til'.
Frases relacionadas
at have travlt
similarTo be busy/in a hurry
at have meget om ørerne
synonymTo have a lot on one's plate
at have hænderne fulde
synonymTo have one's hands full
at se til nogen
builds onTo check on someone
at have intet at se til
contrastTo have nothing to do
