Signification
You cannot achieve two contradictory goals.
Contexte culturel
Danes value honesty and directness. Using this proverb is a socially acceptable way to call out someone's 'bullshit' or unrealistic promises without being overly aggressive. Similar versions exist in Swedish ('man kan inte både äta kakan och ha den kvar') but the flour version is uniquely visceral in Danish. In meetings, this phrase is used to force a decision. It signals that the 'brainstorming' phase is over and 'prioritization' must begin. Newspaper headlines frequently use a shortened version: 'Blæse og have mel i munden' to describe government hypocrisy.
Use it for emphasis
Add 'samtidig' (simultaneously) at the end for extra emphasis on the impossibility.
Don't over-explain
Danes know this phrase well. You don't need to explain the flour metaphor; just say the phrase and let the logic sink in.
Signification
You cannot achieve two contradictory goals.
Use it for emphasis
Add 'samtidig' (simultaneously) at the end for extra emphasis on the impossibility.
Don't over-explain
Danes know this phrase well. You don't need to explain the flour metaphor; just say the phrase and let the logic sink in.
Political context
If you want to sound like a native political commentator, use this when discussing the national budget.
Teste-toi
Udfyld de manglende ord i ordsproget.
Man kan ikke både ______ og have ______ i munden.
Det korrekte ordsprog bruger 'blæse' (at puste luft) og 'mel' (flour).
Hvilken situation passer bedst til ordsproget?
Lars vil gerne tabe sig, men han vil også spise pizza hver dag.
Lars har to modstridende ønsker, hvilket er præcis hvad ordsproget beskriver.
Færdiggør dialogen.
A: Jeg vil gerne have et job med høj løn, men jeg vil kun arbejde 10 timer om ugen. B: Det lyder dejligt, men...
B bruger ordsproget til at påpege, at A's forventninger er urealistiske.
Match ordsproget med den rigtige betydning.
Hvad betyder det at 'blæse og have mel i munden'?
Det handler om logisk umulighed og trade-offs.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesMan kan ikke både ______ og have ______ i munden.
Det korrekte ordsprog bruger 'blæse' (at puste luft) og 'mel' (flour).
Lars vil gerne tabe sig, men han vil også spise pizza hver dag.
Lars har to modstridende ønsker, hvilket er præcis hvad ordsproget beskriver.
A: Jeg vil gerne have et job med høj løn, men jeg vil kun arbejde 10 timer om ugen. B: Det lyder dejligt, men...
B bruger ordsproget til at påpege, at A's forventninger er urealistiske.
Hvad betyder det at 'blæse og have mel i munden'?
Det handler om logisk umulighed og trade-offs.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot necessarily, but it is blunt. It's a way of saying 'be realistic.' Use it with friends or in debates, but maybe not to your boss unless you have a very open relationship.
No, it's almost always used to point out a negative contradiction or an impossibility.
The closest is 'You can't have your cake and eat it too.'
Yes, though they might use it more ironically or in political discussions than in daily text messages.
Yes, 'mel' is an uncountable noun in this context.
You can, and people will understand you, but 'blæse' is the traditional, idiomatic choice.
Because flour is a fine powder that makes it physically impossible to exhale forcefully without creating a mess.
Yes, Norwegian has 'man kan ikke både blåse og ha mel i munnen', which is almost identical.
It might be a bit too informal/cliché for a cover letter, but it works well in an interview to show cultural knowledge.
People might think you are talking about the other idiom 'rent mel i posen'. It's better to use the full phrase.
Expressions liées
at få både i pose og i sæk
synonymTo get both the small portion and the whole lot.
at have rent mel i posen
similarTo have a clean conscience.
at vælge mellem to onde
contrastTo choose between two evils.
at tage bladet fra munden
specialized formTo speak one's mind plainly.
