Meaning
Being organized.
Cultural Background
In Danish offices, 'at have styr på tingene' is the highest form of praise. Because of the flat hierarchy, employees are expected to manage themselves. If you have 'styr på tingene', your boss will leave you alone to do your work. Hygge requires a lack of stress. To create a 'hyggelig' environment, the host must have 'styr på tingene' (food, candles, music) so the guests can relax completely. There is a cultural value placed on 'ordentlighed' (decency/orderliness). Being someone who doesn't have 'styr på tingene' can be seen as a lack of respect for other people's time. While the phrase is used, the maritime origin ('styr' as rudder) remains very literal in these fishing-dependent communities.
Use it in your CV
Instead of saying 'I am organized', write 'Jeg er god til at have styr på tingene'. It sounds much more natural to a Danish recruiter.
Don't over-intensify
Saying 'Jeg har 100% styr på tingene' is fine, but saying it too often can make you sound arrogant. Let your actions prove it.
Meaning
Being organized.
Use it in your CV
Instead of saying 'I am organized', write 'Jeg er god til at have styr på tingene'. It sounds much more natural to a Danish recruiter.
Don't over-intensify
Saying 'Jeg har 100% styr på tingene' is fine, but saying it too often can make you sound arrogant. Let your actions prove it.
The 'Styr' Compliment
If a Dane tells you 'Du har styr på det', take it as a major compliment. It means they trust your professional judgment.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition.
Jeg har virkelig styr ___ tingene i dag.
The idiom 'at have styr på tingene' always uses the preposition 'på'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say you are organized at work?
Vælg den rigtige sætning:
'Styr' is the correct noun, and 'tingene' is the correct plural form.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the phrase.
Chef: 'Er du klar til mødet?' Medarbejder: 'Ja, bare rolig. Jeg ___.'
The present tense 'har' is used to show that you are currently ready.
Match the situation to the correct use of the phrase.
Situation: You just finished cleaning your whole house and organizing your bills.
This expresses that you have achieved a state of order.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJeg har virkelig styr ___ tingene i dag.
The idiom 'at have styr på tingene' always uses the preposition 'på'.
Vælg den rigtige sætning:
'Styr' is the correct noun, and 'tingene' is the correct plural form.
Chef: 'Er du klar til mødet?' Medarbejder: 'Ja, bare rolig. Jeg ___.'
The present tense 'har' is used to show that you are currently ready.
Situation: You just finished cleaning your whole house and organizing your bills.
This expresses that you have achieved a state of order.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, you don't 'have styr på en person' unless you are controlling them in a negative way. Use it for tasks, situations, or 'tingene'.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in a professional email to a client or colleague.
'Det' refers to a specific thing mentioned before. 'Tingene' is more general, referring to your whole life or a whole project.
No, 'styr' is a noun. The verb is 'have'.
You say: 'Jeg prøver at få styr på tingene.'
Yes, 'at få styr på sine følelser' means to get one's emotions under control.
No, it is neutral. Everyone from the Queen to a teenager uses it.
Use 'at miste styringen' or 'jeg er ved at miste styr på det'.
Yes, just 'Jeg har styr på det.'
Prepositions in idioms are often arbitrary. In Danish, you have control 'on' something.
Related Phrases
at have tjek på det
synonymTo be savvy and organized.
at have overblik
similarTo have an overview.
at miste overblikket
contrastTo lose the overview/control.
at have styr på sagerne
specialized formTo have control of the matters.
