Meaning
To help or participate in something.
Cultural Background
In Norway, the concept of 'Janteloven' (the Law of Jante) means people often downplay their own influence. Using 'å ha en finger med' is a humble way to admit involvement without sounding boastful. Norwegian workplaces are very flat. Managers often say they 'had a finger med' to show they supported the team rather than 'I did it all myself'. The phrase is a staple in Norwegian political journalism, used to describe the 'grå eminenser' (grey eminences) who advise leaders. Often used when a coach's tactical change leads to a goal, even if they aren't on the field.
Use 'i spillet' for impact
Adding 'i spillet' makes you sound much more like a native speaker when discussing politics or business.
Singular vs Plural
Always use 'en finger' (singular). Using 'fingre' (plural) changes the meaning to physical touching.
Meaning
To help or participate in something.
Use 'i spillet' for impact
Adding 'i spillet' makes you sound much more like a native speaker when discussing politics or business.
Singular vs Plural
Always use 'en finger' (singular). Using 'fingre' (plural) changes the meaning to physical touching.
Modesty is key
Use this phrase to describe your own work if you want to sound collaborative and humble.
Test Yourself
Fyll inn de manglende ordene i uttrykket.
Hun har alltid hatt en ______ med i spillet når det gjelder familiebedriften.
Det riktige ordet i dette idiomet er 'finger'.
Hvilken setning betyr det samme som: 'Han var involvert i planleggingen'?
Velg det beste alternativet:
'Å ha en finger med' betyr å være involvert.
Match situasjonen med riktig bruk av uttrykket.
Situasjon: En politiker har i hemmelighet påvirket en ny lov.
Uttrykket passer perfekt for hemmelig eller subtil påvirkning.
Fullfør dialogen.
A: Hvordan fikk du den jobben? B: Vel, onkelen min hadde nok en ______ ______ ______ ______.
Her passer det å si at onkelen hadde en finger med i spillet (påvirket resultatet).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesHun har alltid hatt en ______ med i spillet når det gjelder familiebedriften.
Det riktige ordet i dette idiomet er 'finger'.
Velg det beste alternativet:
'Å ha en finger med' betyr å være involvert.
Situasjon: En politiker har i hemmelighet påvirket en ny lov.
Uttrykket passer perfekt for hemmelig eller subtil påvirkning.
A: Hvordan fikk du den jobben? B: Vel, onkelen min hadde nok en ______ ______ ______ ______.
Her passer det å si at onkelen hadde en finger med i spillet (påvirket resultatet).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNot necessarily. It can be positive (helping out) or neutral (being involved). It only becomes negative if the context implies secret manipulation.
Yes, but it's less common and sounds a bit more formal or old-fashioned.
'Medvirke' is a formal, technical word. 'Å ha en finger med' is an idiomatic, everyday expression.
No, 'å ha en finger med' works fine on its own, but 'i spillet' is very common for emphasis.
Yes, especially for coaches or players who influenced a play without being the one who scored.
Yes, very often: 'Han hadde en finger med...'
In Norwegian, we say 'å ha en finger med i alt' or 'å ha mange jern i ilden' (many irons in the fire).
Yes, it's a standard professional idiom in Norway.
It can, but usually it just implies that the involvement wasn't the most obvious part of the process.
Yes, e.g., 'Han hadde en finger med i ranet' (He had a hand in the robbery).
Related Phrases
å trekke i trådene
similarTo pull the strings (control behind the scenes)
å ha en fot innenfor
similarTo have a foot in the door
å stå i bresjen
contrastTo lead the way/be at the forefront
å legge seg borti
specialized formTo meddle
