Bedeutung
Being very surprised by something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Norway, discussing high prices (especially for electricity and food) is a national pastime. 'Bakoversveis' is the unofficial mascot phrase for these conversations. Tabloid newspapers in Norway use this phrase constantly in 'clickbait' headlines to evoke a sense of outrage or shock in the reader. While informal, using this phrase shows you have a good grasp of 'folkelig' (down-to-earth) Norwegian. It makes you sound less like a textbook and more like a neighbor. Younger generations still use the phrase, but often ironically or in a very exaggerated way to describe minor social 'shocks' on TikTok or Snapchat.
Use 'Helt'
Add the word 'helt' (completely) before 'bakoversveis' to sound more natural and emphasize your shock.
Not for Funerals
Even if a death is surprising, this phrase is too informal and visually 'funny' for such a somber occasion.
Bedeutung
Being very surprised by something.
Use 'Helt'
Add the word 'helt' (completely) before 'bakoversveis' to sound more natural and emphasize your shock.
Not for Funerals
Even if a death is surprising, this phrase is too informal and visually 'funny' for such a somber occasion.
Tabloid Talk
If you want to complain about the economy like a true Norwegian, this is your go-to phrase.
Body Language
When saying this, Norwegians often widen their eyes and lean back slightly to mimic the 'wind' hitting them.
Teste dich selbst
Fyll inn det manglende ordet i setningen.
Jeg fikk helt ________ da jeg så hvor mye jeg måtte betale i skatt.
The idiom is 'å få bakoversveis'. 'Sjokkert' is an adjective and doesn't fit after 'fikk helt' in this specific idiomatic structure.
Hvilken setning er riktig?
Hvordan reagerte han på nyheten?
We use 'få' for the person reacting and 'av' for the cause.
Match situasjonen med riktig reaksjon.
Du ser at bensinprisen har doblet seg over natten.
Doubling prices is a classic 'bakoversveis' situation.
Fullfør dialogen.
A: Så du den nye filmen? B: Ja, slutten var helt utrolig! Jeg ____ ____.
Since the movie was watched in the past, we use the past tense 'fikk'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Surprise Levels
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJeg fikk helt ________ da jeg så hvor mye jeg måtte betale i skatt.
The idiom is 'å få bakoversveis'. 'Sjokkert' is an adjective and doesn't fit after 'fikk helt' in this specific idiomatic structure.
Hvordan reagerte han på nyheten?
We use 'få' for the person reacting and 'av' for the cause.
Du ser at bensinprisen har doblet seg over natten.
Doubling prices is a classic 'bakoversveis' situation.
A: Så du den nye filmen? B: Ja, slutten var helt utrolig! Jeg ____ ____.
Since the movie was watched in the past, we use the past tense 'fikk'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenYes! While often used for high prices, it can also be used for amazingly good news or a fantastic performance.
Not at all. It's informal and colorful, but perfectly polite in casual and semi-formal social settings.
No, it's a figurative expression. Even bald people 'får bakoversveis' in Norway!
'Sjokkert' is a standard adjective. 'Bakoversveis' is more idiomatic, visual, and common in everyday spoken Norwegian.
Yes, it is a nationwide idiom understood in all dialects.
Only if you are literally describing your hairstyle. To mean 'I am shocked', you must use 'fikk' or 'får'.
It's very common in both, especially in spoken conversation and newspaper headlines.
It might sound sarcastic. It's best reserved for things that are genuinely quite shocking.
You can say 'Du kommer til å få bakoversveis'.
Technically 'bakoversveiser', but the idiom almost always uses the singular indefinite form.
In Norway, it's definitely the 'strømregning' (electricity bill) or 'matpriser' (food prices).
Probably not. It's a bit too casual. Stick to 'overrasket' or 'imponert' (impressed).
Verwandte Redewendungen
å få hakeslipp
synonymTo have one's jaw drop in surprise.
å bli lamslått
similarTo be stunned or paralyzed with shock.
å falle i staver
contrastTo be lost in thought or daydreaming.
å ta pusten fra noen
similarTo take someone's breath away.
å stå som et spørsmålstegn
similarTo stand like a question mark (to be confused).
